Gebr. Weber (Waldkirch, Germany)

The magnificent Weber Maesto is one of the most sophisticated orchestrions the world has ever known. Today, about seven are known to exist, including four permanently ensconced in the national museums of Holland (Utrecht) and Germany (Bruchsal), the Baud Museum in L'Auberson, Switzerland and the San Sylmar (J.B. Nethercutt) collection in California. The Milhous Collection example represents a particularly important opportunity.

Gebr. Weber's tour de force, the Maesto illustrates the musical genius Gustav Bruder's most complex and inspired musical arrangements. Charged by Weber with the task of creating the ultimate instrument, this is the result, exhibiting an almost unbelievable musical dexterity. In their day they were the "top of the line," as they are today with collectors. Of the seven that are known, all are highly treasured by their owners. Found in Belgium by Q. David Bowers, this instrument was acquired by the Milhous brothers in the late 1990s and treated to a full professional restoration by Mike Argain of California. Instrumentation includes a Feurich piano; violin, flute, clarinet and trumpet/saxophone pipes; xylophone, drums and traps. This example includes a fine selection of over 100 rolls, some with several popular tunes and others with one or two longer selections.

In the 1920s Weber described the Maesto, "Unequalled concert orchestra, dance, and jazz band. An incomparable electro-pneumatic artistic orchestrion comprising a piano of the first order [by Feurich], violin, violoncello, flutes, clarinet, trumpets, saxophone, lotus flute, jazz trumpets, complete xylophone, and assorted percussion instruments including bass drum, castanets, snare drum, tambourine, triangle, cymbal, and wood block."

The clarinets were enclosed in a special chamber, giving additional expression in combination with the expression provided by the regular swell shades. Decades later, Harvey N. Roehl, founder of the Vestal Press, said, "The Weber Maesto is considered by many to be the most outstanding orchestrion. It was built very late in the game and every known device was incorporated to insure that it would resemble as closely as possible a human orchestra. To say that they succeeded would be a gross understatement! Nothing can compare with the artistic renderings of the Maesto." 132x114x40 inches.