Someone make a MIDI retrofit for this."We remember this charming little toy from years ago, and are proud to be able to present it here once more.
Traditional musical boxes normally have a single tune (unless you have an advanced version with different cylinders). But in this case, the music box, which is hand cranked, has a strip of paper that passes through it, and the little holes in this strip determine the tune.
The Music Box comes with one strip of paper already punched with the tune 'Happy Birthday'. There are then 3 blank strips of paper and a hole punch, which will allow you to create tunes of your own! It makes for a fun and interactive way to learn and create music.
The Music Box has a two octave range, and can play chords, not just single notes.
The set consists of the Paper Strip Music Box, a Hole Punch, one sample strip of paper with 'Happy Birthday' already punched, and 3 Blank Melody Strip Cards.
The Melody Strips are 48cm long, and 4cm wide. The Music Box is 10.5cm (including handle) x 4.5cm x 2.75cm high."
Title link takes you to the source.
Shades of Charles Babbage. So when is someone going to make loops by splicing together the ends of the strips?
ReplyDeleteOh... how old school.. reminded me of the time when I had to splice tape and stick them back together for editing... :)
ReplyDeleteNow it needs a computer-controll stepper motor driving it, so it can be sync'ed to MIDI Clock.
ReplyDeleteGoddamn, I had this exact idea a few months ago, MIDI and all. Now everyone is going to think I'm unoriginal when I follow through on the idea :(
ReplyDeleteYou can get a slightly bigger version also. From here, for example:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shop4musicboxes.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=81
My mate Mr.Hopkinson has figured out punching words onto the strips so you can make theme tunes from phrases.!. We made a mobius strip version for a show last year called Obsolete Technology (though dave added an extra o by mistake -- techonology!)
http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/pages/events.htm
http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/images/obsolete_technology/musicboxloop_bugs.jpg
Minor keys! minor keys! minor keys!!!! - I need one with some black keys!!!! - C'mon guys, get ahead of the curve on this one... everybodys knocking these things off now, but theyre all the SAME!!! - MINOR KEYS!!!
ReplyDelete