DESCRIPTION:
The largest orchestrion made by the Marquette Piano Company of Chicago, the Cremona Orchestral J contains a piano (with mandolin attachment) that has a solo mechanism to allow featured instrument solos, two ranks of pipes (32 each, flute and violin), 19-note Una-Fon bells, snare drum, bass drum with tympani effect, tambourine, castanets, cymbal, and triangle, all with automatic expression control.
The J operates using style M music rolls, an orchestrion roll using QRS player-piano arrangements, specially orchestrated for Cremona solo orchestrions. Marquette was one of the first to use QRS and its large library of popular music played by favorite artists of the day to make orchestrion rolls. M roll arrangements can stand up against the best of its competitors, including the popular Capitol style O, and sophisticated Seeburg H arrangements.
Cremona instruments are considered by many collectors to be among the most attractive orchestrions, both inside and out. It is truly a delight to both ears and eyes. This model was made in 1917 and fully restored by Dave Ramey, Sr and son, David Jr., in 2005. This instrument is currently for sale. Please visit dcramey.com for more information.