A converted church contains one of the world’s foremost collections of automatic musical instruments, the legacy of the desire to record and reproduce music before the invention of the microphone. Here you’ll find tiny clockwork music boxes, reproducing pianos and spooky orchestrions, as well as 30,000 historic musical rolls. There are sophisticated pianolas, cranky barrel organs, violin players and the self-playing Mighty Wurlitzer, as well as a 230-seat concert hall and orchestra pit from which a Wurlitzer console rises as they used to in 1930s cinemas. The museum coffee shop overlooks the river, and there are fun dance, film and music events, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Time Out says
Details
- Address
- 399 High Street
- Brentford
- London
- TW8 0DU
- Transport:
- Tube: Gunnersbury tube; Bus: 237, 267, 65; Rail: Kew Bridge rail
- Price:
- £11, £5-£9 reductions. Tickets allow unlimited entry for 12mths; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult
- Opening hours:
- 10.30am-5pm Tue, Fri-Sun. Tours & musical demonstrations 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm Fri-Sun
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