Copyright © 2011-2024 D.C. Ramey Piano Company, LLC. All rights reserved.
Instrumentation. The Banjo-Orchestra is comprised of piano, banjo, snare drum, tambourine,
triangle, wood block, castanets, bass drum, and cymbal. The piano features a high
quality overstrung sixty-one-note plate, identical to those used by J. P. Seeburg
in their models K and KT nickelodeons. The custom crafted banjo is beautifully inlaid
with abalone and mother-of-pearl. The mechanisms throughout are crafted using traditional
orchestrion-building techniques and materials. All the orchestral components have
sophisticated pneumatic expression controls, including the banjo, which has a unique
muting device, that allow the Banjo-Orchestra to perform with a finesse that surprises
and delights musicians. No expense has been spared to produce a quality instrument
which will entertain for years to come!
Banjo-Orchestra
We proudly introduce, to the discriminating collector, the most exciting and entertaining
Jazz Band Orchestrion of the Ragtime Era...
The Ramey Banjo-Orchestra is a totally new "nickelodeon" orchestrion based on a similar
machine, the Banjorchestra, first introduced in 1914 by the Connorized Music Company
and later built by the Engelhardt Piano Company.
Music Rolls. The instrument plays a unique ten-tune orchestrated music roll created
specifically for this new orchestrion with the help of noted music roll arranger
Art Reblitz. Many of the selections featured are from original Encore Banjo rolls.
Mr. Reblitz also adapted European orchestrion arrangements, many of which were inspired
by American dance band arrangements played by some of the best 1920's jazz bands
and adapted to Weber, Hupfeld, Popper and other tracker scales. This allows the Banjo-Orchestra
to play some of the finest music arranged for automatic musical instruments. The
end result is a quality of music unlike anything ever heard from a coin piano. The
instrument comes with five music rolls with the exclusive rights to purchase new
arrangements.
Cabinet. The Banjo-Orchestra is showcased in a cabinet constructed of a solid poplar
core, double veneered with quarter-sawn white oak (may be special ordered in other
species of veneer). All instrumentation is visible from the front, including the
piano, through a three-door hinged front that is fitted with clear glass panels.
The instrument operates from an accumulator nickel coin slide, unless otherwise special
ordered. Electric lamps illuminate the interior of the instrument when playing. It
is 6 ft. 6 in. tall, by 4 ft. 4 1/2 in. wide, by 2 ft. 7 in. deep, and weighs approximately
650 pounds.
Terms. The purchase price of a Ramey Banjo-Orchestra is $83,000.00 for the "standard"
quarter-sawn oak model. It includes five ten-tune music rolls, with the exclusive
rights to purchase new arrangements (additional music rolls are $350.00 each, currently
there is a library of 18 ten-tune rolls). Delivery and set-up within 200 miles from
the factory is also included. $25,000.00 is required upon order with a second installment
of $25,000.00 due during the process of construction with the balance due upon completion,
other payment plans are available. Please inquire for a current projected completion
date or availability of used models.
Click here for more information about the history of the Banjorchestra and the development
of the Ramey Banjo-Orchestra.
