Musée de la musique mécanique, Museum of mechanical music instruments in Dollon, France.
The Musée de la musique mécanique contains self-playing musical devices such as barrel organs, mechanical pianos, and music boxes spanning multiple periods. These instruments still operate and reveal the mechanical engineering that made them work without human musicians.
Collector Philippe Corbin established the museum in the 1990s to preserve these instruments from fading away. His work traces how mechanical music evolved technically over many decades before modern recording took over.
These instruments once filled French cafés with music before records arrived, shaping how people gathered and socialized. Walking through the collection shows how ordinary folks enjoyed entertainment through these mechanical devices.
Plan to spend around 75 minutes on your visit, with tours available in French and English. Check payment options beforehand as the museum accepts various methods including cash and checks.
The collection holds rare scopitones and limonaires that show the ingenuity of craftspeople who created complex sounds through purely mechanical means. These rarities appeal to those curious about forgotten technology and engineering.
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