Robot Dance Organ Price Soars Into the Hundreds of Thousands

Delightful robot dance organ hits a pricey note. The Decap “Robot” Dance Organ would fit right in the Jetson household. At Morphy’s recent sale of mechanical music machines and automata, the completely restored and operating organ sold for $350,550. Built by Belgium’s Decap brothers in 1963, the 105-key organ is 12 feet long, 5 feet high and 3 feet deep, a fine stage space for three talented robot musicians on horns and drums. They play captivating, toe-tapping tunes, even rising (somewhat stiffly) for their solos. The design of the robots reflected the 1950s–early 1960s idea of what “real” robots might look like—think the Jetsons’ maid Rosey or Robot in Lost in Space.

robot dance organ, automaton

Photo: Morphy Auctions

 

Animated Store Display with Ferris Wheel & Carousel

An electric animated store display by Baranger Studios with a Ferris wheel, carousel, burger stand and lovebird couples sold in a December 2020 Pook & Pook auction for $8,540. A sign over the eatery reads, “You Can Be Her Love Bird / Buy That Diamond Now.” The 18- by 25-inch display was sold with its original fitted cardboard shipping crate. The store display took the top price in the sale that featured vintage windup toys.

store advertising display ferris wheel & carousel

Photo: Pook & Pook

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