(Photograph courtesy of Durward Center)

Figure 1. Welte article from the London Illustrated News in 1862. The text describes the large Welte pinned-cylinder orchestrion built in 1857 for the Grand Duke Friedrich von Baden, and that was exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862. The Great London Exposition, as it was alternately termed, was a world's fair. It was held from May 1st to November 1st, 1862, alongside the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, London, England.

(Photograph courtesy of Durward Center)

Figure 57. Large Welte pinned-cylinder orchestrion completed by Michael Welte in 1857, made for the Grand Duke Friedrich von Baden. The instrument was later removed to the Welte factory museum, but unfortunately it was destroyed during the WWII bombing of the factory in 1944.

The grand orchestrion was powered by three clockwork motors that were driven by heavy weights suspended by cables from the rear of the case. Before starting the orchestrion the heavy weight would be raised to the top of the machine using a crank attachment, whereupon the escaping weight then provided ample playing time as it slowly descended to floor level. This marvelous instrument was equipped with no less than 39 barrels (pinned-cylinders), and featured 15 different tonal registers. The pipework was said to imitate flutes, flageolets, piccolos, oboes, trumpets, horns, and trombones. For its time it would have been appreciated and enjoyed as a spectacular mechanical achievement.