"What The **** Is This Thing?!?!?!?"

[oipunkguy]

Working in the antique business once in a good while you come apon an item and you have to say "What The **** Is this Thing?!?!?!?" It's an odd little music box, and kinda is designed in a similar vein as a melodia piano or accordion. I love the celluloid and tortoise shell piano keys. Any information any of you guys can provide I would appreciate it.

[Sarah93003]

My guess would be a Harmonium: http://www.indianmusicalinstruments.com/harmoniums1.htm

check this place out: http://www.indianmusicalinstruments.com/

[Veenture]

Sarah beat me to it but my immidiate thought was "Harmonium" also
Indeed the celluloid- and tortoise shell piano keys are very attractive.

[ZacJM]

I have seen something like that here:

Probably not an accordion organ though but more of what was previously mentioned above

[Haole Jim]

So, what did it sound like?

Did it have a fan blowing across steel reeds?

[vjf1968]

That would be an Indian Pump Organ or a derivative of a Harmonium. I believe you operate a Harmonium by pumping air by foot activated pedals. If you ever heard The Zombies "Butcher's Tale" from "Odessey And Oracle, the keyboard part is a Harmonium played by Rod Argent. You can even hear his fingernails tapping on the keys becuase it had to be miced since it is an acoustic intrument

[MOSDAN]

A little bit of rock and roll history for all of you out there. The 70's band Three Dog Night used a Harmonium on some of their songs. They used many unconventional keyboard type instruments, along with the piano and Hammond B3, to get many of the sounds that propelled them to the most popular rock group of the late 60's and early 70's.

[Sarah93003]

I've always like Three Dog Night. I have a friend who's husband was their bass player for some time.