Philipps Pianella Modell 15 Orchestrion
(Sanfilippo collection, September, 1999)

Standing afresh in its new-found restored glory, the Philipps Model 15 Pianella orchestrion once again delights visitors with its sonorous tones and enchanting musical melodies. Note the decorative beadwork on the lighting fixtures and above the center niche.

Sitting in Art Reblitz's restoration shop, the chassis of the restored Pianella is being made ready for shipment to the Sanfilippo collection. The delicate pipework, as well as the upper casework with its attached bass drum action, has been removed for shipping. Note the unusual arrangement of the castanets, tambourine, triangle, and snare drum actions, all of which are an integral part of the special control chest extending across the front of the upper deck, just in front of the xylophone. This chest arrangement is typical of late model cabinet style Philipps Pianella orchestrions.

Looking over the xylophone, the bass drum with its late style bass drum striking action can be seen. In this model, the center drum mallet is directly attached to the movable part of the driving pneumatic, rather than the older style action that used an intermediary swivel arrangement to hold the mallet, with the motor pneumatic located underneath the swivel mechanism. Note the large wooden boots for the bass section Fagott (Bassoon) reed pipes, with their black painted conical resonators reaching upward.