The "The Robot Organ" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at one of the most unusual musical pieces I've every seen known as a robot organ.  The robot dance organ was made in 1963 and features three mechanical robot musicians, each with a different instrument.  One robot has a set of drums, one robot has a saxophone and the final one has a horn which looks to be similar to a trumpet.

The 12-foot-wide robot dance organ was one of Dutch businessman Henri Krijnen's favorite items he owned.  It was built by Gebroeders Decap which is an Antwerp-based organ building company and one of only three organs of its kind in existence.  It features three robotic musicians programmed to play instruments.  The organ was originally installed at the Hotel Eemland in Soest, Netherlands and was professionally restored to perfection by AC Pilmer Automatic Music of Ossett, England.  The robot dance organ was the highest selling item among 541 lots of mechanical music machines from the collection of Henry Krijnen, a Dutch businessman and collector.  Ozzie Bilotta, a Florida-based collector, bought the organ at auction for $350,550 against the original estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.  The item attracted 31 other bids.  Mr. Bilotta plans to display the organ at a private vintage toy and arcade museum opening this fall in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  The robot band was created in 1963, right in the heart of the classic sci-fi era.  It fits right in with the museum's theme of robots and space toys.  The organ may become part of Mr. Krijnen's museum or the centerpiece of unaffiliated business near the museum.  As of now it is in Oosterhot, the Netherlands.  Mr. Bilotta said he is excited to bring this wonderful fusion of art, music, engineering and classic robot styling to the United States.  I would love to see it, but imagine all I will get to see is a photograph of it after it has arrived in the United States.  Oh to be rich and able to afford something like the robot organ.  I can visualize myself sitting in front of it, listening to the unusual music it must make and being able to tap my foot to the robot's beat.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.