A small single singing bird-in-cage, by Karl Griesbaum,

 

post-1950,

 

Going-barrel movement,

 

A pause for thought...

 

When wound and actuated either for continuous play or paused, the perched bird moves painted beak, head and tailfeather to the selected birdsong.

The bird with patterned multi-coloured feathered plumage in pastel shades of red, blue, cream and yellow, on brass T perch decorated with large ivy leaves, graphite blue base, under circular domed cage with hoop and boss top, the gilt metal base with continuous oval appliqués frieze, start/stop/pause and captive keywind to underside.

 

Point of interest -  

 

The continuous/pause feature is not a new feature in the world of singing birds.  Phallibois were the first to come up with the idea in around 1890 and the method is very simple.  When the bellows pump air through to the reseviour, there is a constant supply of air to the whistle.  The top of the reseviour has a plate running along to a jam on the governor so when the air is low, it un-jams the governor and it proceeds to play.  When a passage has played, the plate moves up to the top and jams the governor stopping the movement until sufficent air has leaked out to start it again. 

 

RG