Before there was MIDI, music boxes used pins to sequence music.
The BM&F MusicMachine 3 is an exquisitely crafted, crazy expensive music box, inspired by Star Wars’ legendary imperial TIE fighters.
And it’s geeky to the core. The 1,400+ pins play themes from Star Wars, Mission Impossible and Star Wars.
Here’s a video demo of the Tie Fighter music box in action:
Here’s what MB&F have to say about it:
MusicMachine 3’s design with those lattice-like vertical wings support and protect the dual music cylinders, each playing three melodies: the theme tunes from Star Wars, Mission Impossible, and James Bond on the right and The Godfather, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, and The Persuaders on the left.
The music is powered by two independent movements mounted on the two tail sections. Each movement has its own winding key (disguised as thrusters), a mainspring barrel, horizontal cylinder with pins, and comb with hand-tuned teeth sounding each note. An air regulator in the form of a circular fan (resembling a rotating radar dish) governs the unwinding speed/music tempo of each cylinder.
The side wings also play a vital role in propagating sound vibrations down from the combs to the naturally amplifying resonant base, manufactured by JMC Lutherie.
MusicMachine 3 is a limited edition of 99 pieces: 33 pieces with white finish; 33 pieces with black finish; and 33 pieces with ‘chrome’ finish. See the MB&F site for details.
Should be:
“The 1,400+ pins play themes from Star Wars, the James Bond series and Mission: Impossible.”
13,000 dollars for a beautiful music box. Either that, or an Arp 2600 + Prophet 6 + Sub37. Hmmmm.
Oh, it’s 18 grand? OK: Jupiter 8 + Matrix 12 + Pro-2.
After the collapse of society, this will be the only way for people hear this music.
sounds beautiful but at the price i want it to give me oral sex for the rest of my time
One of these wouldn’t look out of place on the villains’ desk in the next Bond film.
Damien Hirst – like ridiculous, when there’s IS out there, millions are starving out there
“Your need is not a blank check on my ability.” –John Galt
Gross.
Without a D-Beam I cant see myself picking this up
Where is the X-Wing version with FOUR cylinders ?
What – no MIDI?
Oh sorry, I thought I heard someone complaining about expensive toys. Ooops, I’m on the wrong thread.
Come on… it plays the Theme from The Persuaders. It HAS to be good. That had Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, and a Minimoog lead line. How much better can a TV show get?
The future of Steam Punk has arrived.
it should play more than one star wars theme rather than the other themes… like parade of the ewoks, imperial march, lapti nek, cantina band song….