The Raney Automatic Musical
Instrument Collection

A. C. Raney holding a Baciģalupo-Berlin crank organ.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

1. Albert Clifford Raney standing in the back yard of the ranch house and holding a small Baciģalupo-Berlin crank organ, circa 1945.

Raney ranch house living room, fireplace side.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

2. Raney ranch house living room, fireplace side, circa 1953.

1) A single mechanical singing bird perched in a gilded cage is hanging in front of the smaller left side window. More precisely, it is on the left side of the window and in front of the second glass pane down from the window top.

2) A large Swiss cylinder music box is on the floor directly in front of the small table positioned to the front of the structural column separating the two windows.

Raney ranch house living room, alcove side.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

3. Raney ranch house living room, alcove side, circa 1953. The center couch is where A.C. Raney died in July of 1949, after three years of illness. The large book collection on the shelves (at photo left) belonged to Uncle Robert Delzell, the brother of A.C. Raney’s mother, who gave them to A.C. Raney.

Automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Kalliope Panorama Automat, disk music box with race-horse diarama;

2) Mechanical singing birds in gilded cage (sitting on top of the Kalliope disk music box;

3) Small Gavioli & Co. hand-cranked barrel organ;

4) This is probably a Celestina hand-cranked roller organ (sitting on top of the Gavioli);

5) Hand-cranked street (barrel) piano, maker unknown;

6) Polyphon disk music box;

7) Baciģalupo-Berlin crank organ (sitting on top of the Polyphon disk music box);

8) Seeburg Style G "Art" Orchestrion (only the left side is partially visible).

Raney ranch house living room, alcove side.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

4. Raney ranch house living room, alcove side, circa 1953, automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Polyphon disk music box;

2) Baciģalupo-Berlin crank organ (sitting on top of the Polyphon disk music box);

3) Seeburg G "Art" Orchestrion;

4) Two early horn type lateral disk phonographs sitting on top of the Seeburg G Orchestrion.

Raney ranch house living room.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

5. Raney ranch house living room, circa 1953, automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Regina 15-1/2 inch automatic disk changing music box. This Regina is reportedly located in Walt Disney's private apartment above the Disneyland Firehouse on Town Square.

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2) Mills Novelty Company DeLuxe (Double) Violiano-Virtuoso.

Raney ranch house master bedroom music boxes.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

6. Raney ranch house master bedroom, circa 1953, automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Regina 12-1/4 inch disk music box (sitting on the floor);

2) Ideal Piccolo inter-changeable cylinder music box by Mermod Frères (sitting atop matching table). Extra cylinders are stored in a drawer in the bottom portion of the music box case. This music box was purchased by Disney.

Regina Style 8 automatic disk changing music box.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

7. Regina Style 8 automatic disk changing music box in Clara and Marion Raney's bedroom, circa 1953. Regina Style 8 (sans gallery). This Regina disk changing music box was purchased by Disney.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

8. Raney main music house. The shelving at the back of this photograph, between the Imhof and Mukle orchestrion and the Wurlitzer Style 32 Concert PianOrchestra, is used for music roll storage. To the left of the window are Imhof and Mukle heavy paper key-frame type music rolls housed in a wooden framework. The hand-crank at the end of each housing is for rewinding the music roll back into the wooden framework. Above the window are music rolls for the Wurlitzer Style 32 Concert PianOrchestra.

Automatic musical instrument collection, front to rear:

1) Multiphone Operating Company (1905-08) coin-operated phonograph (holds 24 each of 2-minute Edison cylinders);

2) Kalamazoo electric coin-operated phonograph (circa 1916-18) holds (24 each of 4-minute Blue Amberol cylinders);

3) Nelson-Wiggen Style 8. This little instrument played continuously in Disneyland's Main Street Cinema for several·years, until it was replaced with a replica cabinet fitted with a sound system and speakers for the playing of recorded music. As of circa 1974, the Nelson-Wiggen's whereabouts are unknown, but the replica is reportedly still located in the Main Street Cinema;

4) Seeburg Style C "Art" Piano;

5) Regina Hexaphone, holds six 4-minute Blue Amberol cylinders;

6) (at rear left) Imhof and Mukle (No. 5) Tribute Orchestrion, with moving scene water fountain effect on the painted glass scene (the upper front panel was not on the instrument when this photograph was taken). This instrument was purchased by Disney, circa 1953, but was apparently never put out on location. While in storage, the fountain glass painting was observed to be in poor condition, but the moving scene effect was in place behind the glass and everything inside looked like as though it had never been touched. It was fitted with the usual open pot type mercury switch common in early German built instruments. The instrument was sold during the 1990s. Its current whereabouts are unknown.

7) (at rear right) Wurlitzer Style 32 Concert PianOrchestra.

Welte Style 3 Cottage Orchestrion.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

9. Raney main music house. Welte Style 4 Concert Orchestrion. Serial number 1563 is stamped into the wooden roll-frame shelf just to the left of the roll frame. Two signatures of a technician servicing the Welte, “Louis B,” have been found and are dated 1925 and 1945. The earliest signature is on the back of pipe #1. On the pump is a white sticker for the “West Coast Organ Company, Manufacturers; Reconditioners; Pneumatic Musical Machines of Every Type; 1261½ South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, 35, California.” The West Coast Organ Company is a business name generally used by Louis Bacigalupi. Given the Los Angeles business address for “Louis B,” it is possible that this Welte was originally located in the Los Angeles area, where somehow A.C. Raney discovered it.

This instrument was purchased as part of the Raney collection by Disney circa 1953. When Disneyland (located in Anaheim, California) opened in 1955, the Welte Concert Orchestrion was prominently located in the Main Street Arcade. According to a Disneyland insider, "the Welte has probably played over a million times since arriving at Disneyland," this person in later years having personal knowledge of around 700,000 plays based on coin counters alone. The Welte orchestrion continues to entertain guests in the Penny Arcade/ Candy Palace today (2024).

Notice that the ornate crest that should be atop the front nameplate is missing, and appears to be sitting atop the Wurlitzer Violin-Flute Pianino shown six image frames below.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

10. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Seeburg Style KT Special Orchestrion. This instrument was on location in Disneyland but had been severely modified prior to 1974, when it was finally taken out of service due to the tuning pins being unable to hold a pitch and it had a very noisy non-original vacuum motor device, replacing the original vacuum pump. This instrument was sold during the 1990s, and is currently in the private Don Teach collection;

2) Imhof & Mukle Orchestrion Model No. 9;

3) Wurlitzer Style A Automatic Harp;

4) Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartette (early style with oval windows and flat front). This instrument was purchased by Disney, but its whereabouts are currently unknown.

Wurlitzer Style 32 Concert PianOrchestra.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

11. Raney main music house. Wurlitzer Style 32 Concert PianOrchestra (Philipps Model Cäecilia). This instrument was purchased by Disney and was located in Disneyland's Main Street Arcade on opening day in 1955. It was loaned in 1970 to Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida, for use in their penny arcade This instrument is currently in the Bob Gilson collection, and was meticulously restored by Reblitz Restorations. Click here for more information.

Nelson-Wiggen coin pianos.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

12. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Nelson-Wiggen Casino-X cabinet piano. The case is a bit different than that for the usual Casino X style, and it is embellished with ornamentation that is unusual. The internal layout is also different. Instrumentation for the Casino X normally consists of a 58-note piano with banjo attachment and a 24-bar reiterating horizontal xylophone. However, this Casino X specimen oddly enough has a marimba mounted horizontally under the lid with resonators hanging down, and twin triangle mechanisms between the marimba (under the top lid) and the spoolbox mounted in the lower part of the casework. The Casino X was advertised as playing the standard style "A" music roll, which only has perforations for controlling the banjo attachment and one extra instrument, in this case a marimba. But how were the two triangles activated? Does this piano play style "G" rolls, but why two triangles and no other percussion?;

2) Nelson-Wiggen Style 6 Orchestra. This instrument has been on location at Disneyland's Main Street Penny Arcade, Market House, and the Main Street Train Station. It was restored in 1975 by staff member David Allan, and it is currently entertaining guests in Frontierland.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

13. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Nelson-Wiggen Style 6 Orchestra;

2) Nelson-Wiggen Style 4-X Orchestra;

3) Grand Roller Organ, plays a 32-note scale pinned wooden cylinder or "cob" (sitting on top of the Nelson-Wiggen Style 4-X Orchestra).

4) Coinola Midget Orchestra with metal violin pipes;

5) Engelhardt (Peerless) Cabinet Piano, Model F with wooden stopped flute pipes.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

14. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Engelhardt (Peerless) Cabinet Piano, Style F with wooden stopped flute pipes. This instrument was reportedly on location in Disneyland's Bear Country, circa 1974;

2) Wurlitzer (bow front) Pianino.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

15. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Coinola Midget Orchestrion. This instrument, with the clear glass front, was reportedly located at the entrance of Frontierland when Disneyland opened in 1955, and later reported to be in Disneyland's Main Street Penny Arcade, circa 1974. The late Bart Off purchased the Midget Orchestra from a private auction (still bearing the Disneyland property tag #52383) and restored it. The instrument was sold during the 1990s, and is now in the private collection of David Ramey, Jr.;

2) Victor lateral disc phonograph alongside its detached horn (sitting on top of the Coinola Midget Orchestrion).

3) Western Electric "Selectra" Model B (sans selector device);

4) Wurlitzer Violin-Flute Pianino, with snare drum added and mounted atop the case. Note the small crest also sitting atop the Pianino (in front of the added snare drum), which appears to be the missing ornate crest that should be situated above the front nameplate (located above the roll frame access door) for the Welte Style 3 Cottage Orchestrion, shown six image frames above.

Raney main music house collection.(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

16. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Resotone Grand;

2) Regina Sublima;

3) Cremona Orchestral K;

4) Seeburg KT with violin pipes;

5) Seeburg K with pipes;

6) Link Style 2-E piano.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

17. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Seeburg KT with violin pipes;

2) Seeburg K with pipes;

3) Link 2-E cabinet piano with mandolin attachment and reiterating xylophone.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

18. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Orchestral Regina 27-inch disk music box, Style 4;

2) Encore Automatic Banjo.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

19. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Seeburg Style H Solo Orchestrion;

2) Hupfeld Model B Phonoliszt-Violina. This instrument was purchased by Disney, but its whereabouts and condition are unknown.

Raney main music house collection.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

20. Raney main music house automatic musical instrument collection, left to right:

1) Wurlitzer Style L Orchestra Piano (with 10-tune roll frame). This instrument was located on Disneyland's Mark Twain dock from the day the park opened in 1955 up until circa 1970. It was restored in 1978 by staff member David Allan, and is currently in WDI storage;

2) Fr. Jebavy barrel operated piano-orchestrion.

Don R. Maxeiner Photography rubber stamp on the backside of Raney collection photographs.

(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

21. Raney collection photographs were taken by Don R. Maxeiner, circa 1953. Pictured above is the Don R. Maxeiner Photography rubber stamping placed on the backside of Raney collection photographs. Circa 2003, the current phone number for Don Maxeiner was located, but his wife answered and he could not take the call because he was quite ill and unable to talk. Another attempt, a month or so later, also failed, because he was reportedly in worse condition and unable to take a call. Thus, it is unknown whether or not he still had negatives of the Raney ranch and musical instrument collection.

Raney main music house.(Photograph courtesy of Clara May (Raney) Akard.)

22. Raney main music house. The is an enlargement of a small portion of a much larger panoramic photograph of the Raney Ranch, circa 1948, as viewed from what was often described by the Raney family as Cliff's house (i.e., an old house used by Albert Clifford Raney, Jr. for many years). The house was located alongside Cliota Avenue on the former Johnson property. There are no known close-up photographs of the so-called music house building.

The Playland Wurlitzer Style 30A Mandolin PianOrchestra.

(Photograph courtesy of the late Lyle Martin.)

23. The Playland Wurlitzer Style 30A Mandolin PianOrchestra, circa 1961. Whether or not this PianOrchestra was ever located in the Raney music room is unknown, but for certain it was not included in the Don R. Maxeiner photographic portfolio that included everything located in the ranch house and the music room building circa 1953. At some point, however, possibly as early as 1932, this PianOrchestra was apparently purchased by A.C. Raney. According to Clara May (Raney) Akard, the Wurlitzer PianOrchestra was on loan to Playland and was probably sold to Playland circa 1953, when the bulk of the Raney collection was sold off to various parties, with Disney purchasing approximately thirty machines. Click here for more information regarding this Wurlitzer Style 30A Mandolin PianOrchestra.

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