A good single large antique coin-operated bird-in-cage, by Phallibois,

 

French, Circa 1890,

 

Going-barrel movement,

 

A song of nature for the cost of a penny...

 

When wound and a 1d. piece inserted in coin slot, the bird moving natural beak, head and tailfeather to quick-sequential synchronised birdsong.

The bird with dark red, brown and grey-tinted feathered plumage on brass T perch, pale green velvet base, under canted corner square domed cage with hoop and boss top, base in beech veneers decorated with pressed gilt metal appliqués.

 

Point of interest-

 

When it was time to place automata to a paying audience, models such as this were placed in taverns, hotels and station waiting rooms to generate revenue.  Usually of better movement construction, they got plenty of wear, hence the use of a complete taxidermy bird where the denser feathered plumage hides the thicker action rods.