Schulmerich Electronics Carillonic Bells Desktop Synthesizer SN 40-14

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via this listing

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Deck the Halls - Mannheim Steamroller Cover

video upload by Brian Seemann

Deck the Halls
arr. by Chip Davis

Performed on:
Schulmerich Handbells
Schulmerich Silver Melody Bells
Sequential Prophet 600
Roland JX-3P
Korg ARP Odyssey
Korg DW-8000
Kawai K3
Korg Mono/Poly

Vintage Schulmerich Carillon Bells

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via this auction

I spotted the keyboard and decided to post it. I searched YouTube for demos and couldn't find one, but I did find demos for the other models above. I then found the Model 110 and Model 36-192 and figured I should capture them as well, especially with how the Model 110 to the left lives in a giant metal locker. Kind of a Dr. Who/Tardis/Phone Booth vibe going. Open the unasuming locker and inside you find an eccentric world of audio.

If you are curious what these are, they produce bell chime sounds, mainly for church use. I thought the keyboard version was interesting, and could make for a unique tool in the studio. I guess the larger models could as well. Definitely a talking piece. The vacuum tube logo is pretty cool. It looks like an old school rocket ship!

BTW, it turns out this isn't the first Schulmerich post on the site. There were a few others you can find here, including a demo of a three tier keyboard model here.

Although not technically test equipment, I'm giving it the label as those looking for test equipment sound sources might find these interesting. They are also borderline synth rorschachs, but skipping that label as these do indeed produce sound.

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Rare Vintage Maas-Rowe Vibrachord Electronic Carillon Keyboard

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via this auction

Here's something you don't see every day. This is the first Maas-Rowe post on the site. There was a UCSD Geisel Library Carillon posted here, but I am not aware if they are related.

Via the listing: "The Maas-Rowe Vibrachord is a rare electromechanical instrument made in the 1960s that was manufactured to emulate the sounds of a harp, vibraphone, and orchestra bells, so that piano and organ players could have such sounds at their fingertips. The keyboard triggers a set of solenoids, which launch striker pieces upward to play uniquely-shaped circular bell bars, the sound of which is then amplified through the Vibrachord's tube amp (which features tremolo) and accompanying speaker. The bells have a very sweet and round sound that is unique; if I were to associate it with the sound of another musical instrument, one most likely would say that a vibraphone sounds closest to its sound. It has five voices: celesta, harp, muted harp, vibrachord, orchestra bells, and features a volume-adjustable tremolo circuit and a sustain pedal system (not shown in pictures, but included). The instrument consists of the bell cabinet, an amplifier, a control panel unit, a keyboard, and a speaker cabinet.

This instrument also looks incredibly cool, thanks to the Moog-like keyboard with adjacent control unit and the matching colors of the bell cabinet and speaker cabinet. It has plenty of cabling, as this is a purely electromechanical (vs. electronic) instrument.

This instrument is in excellent functional condition. We actually put over $1000 of parts and labor into fixing this. These are impossible to find in fully functional condition. I've seen several for sale over the years, but never a working one. Keep in mind that if you have this shipped, it is possible that something could shift during shipment that might effect its perfect functionality, so please note that we can only guarantee its 100% functionality if you pick up in person. Otherwise we guarantee that it will arrive in great shape overall, but not necessarily perfect upon arrival. The $225 freight quote is for shipping this LTL, which is the safest economical mode of transportation.

Maas-Rowe is a manufacturer of electronic keyboard carillons, which are keyboard instruments that emulate the sound of church bells, so that a church does not have buy actual huge bronze bells to achieve a realistic sound from a bell tower.

The bench on which it sits in the pictures it is not original to it, but the color matches and we can throw it in for free if you pay for the additional shipping cost.

We'll include a copy of a Maas-Rowe bells/carillon catalog and a copy of a Schulmerich bells/carillon catalog for the winning bidder."

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Schulmerich Americana Carillon Electronic Bell, Chime Instrument for Auction

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Published on Feb 11, 2013 AntiquityMusicLLC·13 videos

Stone Mountain Park Carillon-Mabel Sansing Sharp Carillonneur

Uploaded on Apr 4, 2010 stevethrasher·156 videos

"For over three decades carillonneur, Mabel Sansing Sharp has treated audiences to spectacular performances of the songs "Clare Delune", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Amazing Grace" and "Georgia" along with many other songs and hymns. A very special thank you to Ms. Mabel for all of the wonderful memories!

For those of you not familiar with the Stone Mountain Carillon, the instrument was built by Schulmerich Carillons in Sellersville, PA for the Coco-Cola Pavilion 1964 World's Fair in New York.
The 732-bell carillon is located lakeside in the heart of beautiful Stone Mountain Park, Georgia. This amazing bell tower structure provides daily concerts to those young and old for reflection and inspiration. The carillon is the heaviest of all musical instruments and probably one of the most interesting by design."

via this auction

This one spotted by Evan of Antiquity Music, makers of The Wheel Harp. It appears to be electronic based as you can see from the pics.

"For your consideration is an extremely rare Schumerich Americana carillon, one of Schulmerich's flagship carillons from the 1960s. Most of these carillons have been destroyed or salvaged for their amplifier parts, and finding one of these very nice models is extremely unusual. Buying a new digital Schulmerich carillon costs over $35,000 today, but these analog carillons have an even more beautiful, breathtaking sound. This particular carillon came from Weber State University in Utah, and cost over $25,000 in the early 1960s, which equates to over $180,000 in today's dollars.

We have fully restored this carillon's wiring, adding connectors (DB25, XLR, RCA etc.), so that the carillon can easily be moved around (all Schulmerich Americana carillons were originally hard-wired on-site when installed, so when removed, over 400 individual cables had to be cut, making restoration extremely costly and time-consuming). This required soldering over 800 individual cables!!!!! The restoration work on this carillon has cost us over $4000 in technicians' time.

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Vintage Schulmerich Carillon Bells Synthesizer Keyboard

via this auction

"Keyboard from a Schulmerich Carillon Bells which was a type of early synthesizer. It is in an oak case which measures 17-1/2" by 12-1/2" by 6-3/4". There are two octaves or 25 keys. There is a contact switch for each key and some other electronic parts inside. I believe this dates from the 1940's. It is marked: A Product of Schulmerich Electronics Inc. Sellersville, Pa. Any mad scientists out there need the start of a cool project?..."

Update via daden in the comments: "it is not a kind ofg synthesizer it's a remote for the motors of the carillon hammers..."

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