HOME / Accueil

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

THE GREAT CANADIAN NICKELODEON COMPANY
1975*NICKELODEON*2025
The Nickelodeon Co. Ltd.was closed as a Limited Company in 2020 but sales and restoration continue as;
**Ron Schmuck Restorations** ** Automated musical instruments and sales**
-2025-
OFFERING CONSIGNMENT SALES AS WELL AS MY OWN INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE.
SO PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT THE
"INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE PAGE"
(Quick link click above)
OF AUTOMATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
AND RESTORATIONS

**JANUARY 1 2025 *** 50 years in business**
Restoring Automated Musical Instruments
RR#4, 1 MINTO PINES RD, MOUNT FOREST, ONTARIO
CANADA, N0G 2L0
**CELL 1 519 261 0154 (WORLDWIDE 001 519 261 0154 )**
[email protected]

NEW! ***Quick find;***
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

*****************************************************************

Style "O" Orchestrion built by;
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
1985
Click here to go to the full
"For sale page"
Priced to sell at $10,000.00....Cdn$$
$7,000.00.....USA$$
All offers will be considered

***************************************************************

Weber MAESTO Reproduction
ORCHESTRION
Built by;
The Great Canadian
NICKELODEON Co. Ltd.
This is the last of a series of
Kinder Maesto's we built and this the ultimate orchestrion
Priced at just
$65,000.00 (Canadian $$)
Click Here to see full description

***************************************************** RON SCHMUCK, sort of RETIRED ;-)).
(I WILL STILL BE DOING RESTORATION WORK AS TIME ALLOWS)
SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP ME AN EMAIL OF YOUR PROJECT

Ron Schmuck 1975 & Sidney Ron Schmuck 2024

Ron Sitting on top of the Zig Spitz, Germanys tallest mountain
"Finally at the top :-))"

_ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&______
*Celebrating 50 + years in Business 1975-2025*
--------The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Companie--------------
------------A few of our past projects remembered_-----------------
and NEW items for sale 2025!!__
*************************************************************************

HISTORY OF AUTOMATED MUSIC by "The History Guy"

Another Excellent presentation is;
AUTOMATA; THE EXTRAORDINARY "ROBOTS" DESIGNED HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO
The 1 hour video below is an excellent history of the world of Automata that I wish everyone interested in computers could see Their magic began hundreds of years ago but is still imitated in our modern world today.
To see a few of the Singing Bird mechanical works we have restore just scroll up on this "Home Page" and view various restorations in the column on the left side. But first sit back and enjoy the video;
Click Below Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nt7xLAfEPs

***********************************************************************************************
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY INTERESTING
PROJECTS TAKEN ON BY
THE GREAT CANADIAN NICKELODEON CO.
OVER THE PAST 49 YEARS
*************************************************************************************************

(Many During the years 1975 to 2000
In 2000 the main shop was located to Mount Forest Ont. where it is still located in 2025
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co
had shops and showrooms in London, Ontario, Mississauga (Toronto) and Guelph Ontario.
We had super employees who really put their hearts
into working for Nickelodeon Co. (Many Thanks)
In 2000 Nickelodeon Gardens in Guelph was sold
and the restoration shop was located to Mount Forest Ont.
where it is still located in 2025
Below is a few pictures of a few of our locations and people
*******

The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
1975 Shop #1 London Ont.
Dundas St East, London Ont. Canada

Above picture of our first shop in London 1975 was taken Nov 2024
our shop was in the basement.
***********************************************************************************************

The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
1978 approx. Shop #2 London Ont.
85 Midpark Rd, London Ont. Canada

Picture above
Nickelodeon Co. showrooms and restoration shops. 85 Midpark Rd, London, Ontario Loading of the worlds largest traveling concert organ owned by Canada's Conklin Shows. Heading back to Europe where it was originally built by Herr Karl Frei Waldkirch Germany.

85 Midpark Cres London Ontario Picture taken Nov 2024
************************************************************************************************

************************************************************************
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
SHOP #3
135 Industrial Park, London Ont. Canada
Sales & Restoration Shop # 3
Picture coming soon
*************************************************************************

The Great Canadian NICKELODEON Co Ltd. Branch location, Dixie & Dundas St.
Mississauga (Toronto Ont.)

ABOVE pictures of our Nickelodeon Co. Mississauga Branch:
Ron Schmuck (Left) and Mr. Jim Maurice Manager of Mississauga branch.
Our Mississauga (Toronto) Showroom/music roll sales etc.
(Restoration work of instruments was done at our London Ont. shops.)
located at the corner of Dixie & Dundas St.
Was often a meeting place for many well know people such as;
Pierre Burton, Ed Mirvish, Mr Walter Bick (Bick Pickles) Captain John Lenard
David Peterson (Canadian Priminister) etc. to name a few.

=========================================================================

THE GREAT CANADIAN NICKELODEON CO LTD
NICKELODEON GARDENS

Nickelodeon Gardens
Located on Hwy 7 Between Guelph & Rockwood.
*Featuring*
** Museum of Automated musical instruments.
** Gift shop &
** Full Restaurant menu.
** Live entertainment on the Wurlitzer Photoplayer. by Jeanette Montgomery and
June Kerkoven The original "DIAMOND LILL" Fri/Sat & Sundays
**Restoration shops for Automated Musical Inst. Tours
** Largest stock of Player Piano, Orchestrion and Band Organ rolls
(QRS, Playrite, Ampico, Welte etc.)
**Licensed bar ,,, Jeanette Montgomery on the ragtime piano

**Automated musical instruments showroom for sale, Player Pianos, Band Organs Orchestrions and paper music rolls to fit all instruments etc
**Complete Garden Center from May 1 to Sept 30. Box plants, baskets etc.

**********************************************************************

***********************************************************************
THE GREAT CANADIAN NICKELODEON CO.
Mount Forest Ont. Restoration Shops 2000-2025
Located on our own property in a building built especially for the restoration of Automatic musical instruments contains a full wood and metal working shop.
cabinet refinishing of all types of finish incl. French Polish.
Nickel & Brass Plating of metal parts.
Stained glass restoration and new windows, lamps etc.

*************************************************************************
The following section is dedicated to just a few of our many customers;
Our "MEMORIES OF" Pages.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McDonalds Orchestrion
being delivered to McDonalds University Toronto, Ont.

McDonalds Custom built Orchestrion by The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co. 1985 approx. Delivered to the "University" and being played by Mr. George Cohon owner
of McDonalds Canada. (Who is putting the first coin in the Instrument)
This instrument the is presently at Ronald McDonalds House in London Ontario 2024
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) helps support families when their child is sick or injured, and McDonald's is proud to be its founding and forever mission partner. https://www.rmhc-swo.ca/
***********************************************************************************************************************************
***********************************************************************************************************************************

CANADA'S CONKLIN SHOWS
**Conklin & Garrett Sows**
Brantford Ont. Canada

  Canada's Conklin Shows Memories
  *Just click above or Here to enter the MEMORIES *
to go to a special presentation*   But first,
Click the video below to hear the wonderful
CANADA'S CONKLIN SHOWS

"CARL FREI TRAVELING CONCER ORGAN"
Nickelodeon Co. maintained this instruments back in 1975--1990's and it is now residing The Museum Fur Musikautomaten, Seewan,Switzerland
and freshly restored. Enjoy :-))

.........................................................................
**New!! COAA article by Fred Dahlinger Jr**
The Zierer-Conklin Carl Frei Concert Organ
Click Here
.........................................................................

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *A special article by Al Stencell*
Mr. Jim Conklin Obituary March 2023
as published in The Great Brittan Bandwagon
Spring 2023
(Please click Here)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*************************************************************************************************************************************
"MEMORIES OF "
Mr. Rick Cooley
One of Americas GREATEST dealers in
Automated Musical Instruments in America
Nickelodeon was fortunate to have been able to work
From 1995 to Aug 17 2010, who was not only one of my very best customers, but also a great friend to his untimely passing on Aug 17 2010.
*Remembering*
Rick Cooley operated Cooleys Olde Tyme Piano Shoppe (COTPS)
Hockessin Delaware, USA
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
did all of the restoration work on the many
Automated Musical instruments Rick bought from all around the world.
***********To see just a few of the**********
Many instruments we restored for COTPS
*********Please click here********

Picture below; RICK COOLEY WITH THE "RESTORED"
3 FIGURED BLESSING ROBOT BAND AUTOMATON FROM GERMANY

To read the history and much more on the Blessing Robot Band click HERE___________________

To see our "Picture Progress Report" to Mr. Cooley covering
the restoration of the BLESSING 3 FIGURE ROBOT BAND.
*****Please Click HERE******

RICK COOLEY WITH THE "RESTORED" 3 FIGURED BLESSING ROBOT BAND AUTOMATON FROM GERMANY 1997
To read the history and much more on the Blessing Robot Band click HERE
.....................................................................................................

To see, AND HEAR the Blessing 3 Figure Robot play
after it was restored in 1996/97 please view the video below.
I recently found a video cassette from 1997 that Rick had commercially made. My good friend from Rudesheim Germany was kind enough to remaster the old Cooley Blessing Band video which I am pleased to present Please visit Luke's YouTube site to see many Automated Musical Instruments https://www.youtube.com/@retr0la
Ron Schmuck
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
and a very very big THANK YOU LUKE GRENZE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbJjPo0DRoI&t=61s

*****************************************************
_____________________________________
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co. in South Korea.
Please click the link below to read a great article published in covering our projects to create museums of Automated Musical instruments in South Korea
for Mr & Mrs. Kyung Hwan Hwang in South Korea

KOREA * ICS Gyeongju Museum

*********************************** The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co. Memories
This is the another item in our "Remembering" series of past projects
The "Salzburg Stier" Barrel Organ
  built in1504
Restored 1998 - 2002
The barrel which "stores" the music was originally Pinned by
Leopold Mozart(1719-1787), court composer to Salzburg,
(Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father,)

I guess it is best to click on the link below to get an idea of what the Stier sounds like after the restoration and where it is located in the fortress "Hohensaltzburg"
     https://youtu.be/psu6nH2m9js
******************************************************
NEW!!   Just click HERE to go back 20 years and revisit this project complete with video of Dr. Jan Jaap Haspels, and grand opening celebrations
at the Fortress Hohen Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
......................................................................................................................................

NEW!! Then to go back to the original Nickelodeon Company web site
Salzburg Stier web pages just click on the big picture of the
Salzburg Stier below and many interesting articles by well known authors.
 (Under HOME MOVIES, video never seen before Feb 1 2021 taken Sept 2002)

Video Below is the Salzburg Stier 1502 Barrel organ in concert after the 2002 restoration

Video below is an excellent view of the fortress Hohensalzburg and the
Salzburg Stier Barrel Organ 1502 playing after the 2002 restoration
The barrel which "stores" the music was originally Pinned by
Leopold (1719-1787), court composer to Salzburg, (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father,)
 Narrated in German and lasts about 5 minutes.But pictures are all excellent

Video below is an excellent view of the fortress Hohensalzburg and the
Salzburg Stier Barrel Organ 1502 playing after the 2002 restoration
The barrel which "stores" the music was originally Pinned by
Leopold (1719-1787), court composer to Salzburg, (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father,)

Here is an excellent video of the Stier and the Fortress Hohensalzburg
https://youtu.be/psu6nH2m9js

****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
In
Ein Hod, "Nisco Museum" ISRAEL
In November 2011 The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Company volunteered to help NISAN COHEN'S (Museum of Automated Musical Instruments
at Ein Hod, ISRAEL) giving back a voice to his beloved Orchestrelle and to a many other instruments, after the artists' village where he is living had been, one year before, besieged during 4 days by a forest fire.
Trip was financed by the East Coast Chapter, Music Box Society International.
Later trips financed by the NISCO Museum of Automated Musical Instruments.
It has been an extraordinary experience about fragility, and Fate,
but above all of courage and optimism.
Still under the shock of the powerful landscape there, and the view of the martyred instruments, we tried to create a poetic slideshow whose pictures have been published in the MBSI magazine 1st issue of the year 2012 and that we would like now to share with you CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS PAGE
Since this Time in 2022 The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co. has made many trips back to the NISCO MUSEUM and Nisan Cohan.
https://www.ein-hod.org/en/nisco-museum/

Please click here to see more on the delivery of new instruments, especially the "PRIMAR"
Concert Fairground Organ
(Arthur Prinsen's Masterpiece.)
***
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ON THE DELIVERY OF THE "PRIMAR CONCERT FAIRGROUND ORGAN."
....................................................................................................

Please click here to read more about the PRIMAR Concert Fairground Organ and it's builder Mr Arthur Prinsen as published in "The Keyframe"

NISCO MUSEUM IS THE BUILDING ON RIGHT IN THIS PICTURE AT
EIN HOD ISRAEL
PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE MUSEUM;
https://www.google.com/search?q=Nisco+Museum+EinHod+Israel&rlz=1C1CHMO_enCA848CA863&oq=nISCO&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MggIARBFGCcYOzIOCAIQRRg5GEMYgAQYigUyBggDECMYJzINCAQQLhivARjHARiABDINCAUQLhivARjHARiABDIHCAYQABiABDIGCAcQRRg90gEIMzc0M2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcE03NFF3MUJ6OU9CNlZqRjRobHd2aGdieHNDUU8yN0RMNTVTQ19p

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

************************************************************************
Completed Restoration projects
2020/2021
Pictures below are a few of the interesting projects we restored in 2019 2020.
Call today to book your restoration in 2020

May 25 2021; The picture below is of two instruments that were offered for sale in the same Catalogue from the famous dealer in Mechanical Musical Instruments G.W. (Mac) MacKinnon 1970's
The MacKinnon Calliope (on the left) is from the Renfrew Historical Society in Renfrew, Ont. Canada. The instrument is now restored and back at the museum in Renfrew all ready for another 50 years of entertaining.
The second instrument is the MacKinnon Bandolin style 125 Military Band Organ that Mac commissioned the Johnson Organ company make for him. (Aprox 15 were made?)
I recently purchased this instrument from the Canadian Automotive Museum.
It is now being fully restored including the original music roll player and a new midi system which will allow for a library of over 1000 songs to be available instantly on the new Brotech tablet system.
I will also be including a glockenspiel (Metal Bells) to play with the trumpets as well as other improvements to the various pipes.
A new facade will also be built more in the tradition of the Gus. Bruder design which Wurlitzer borrowed for their style 153 Band Organ.
*You can see the restoration progress of both instruments by clicking on their name
RENFREW CALLIOPE RESTORATION MACKINNON BANDOLA 125 BAND ORGAN

Some of the 2020 Restorations pictured above;
Roesneath Carousel 125 Military Band Organ & McDonald's Orchestrion.
Nickelodeon Co. Orchestrion and several wonderful player pianos.
Call now to book your project for 2022.
*************************************************************************************************

CHICAGO ELECTRIC Nickelodeon Piano
for Ailsa Craig & Distric Historical Society. Ailsa Craig ON.
Follow the restoration at; http://www.nickelodeonco.com/ailsa-craig-chicago-electric-project.html
......................................................................................................................................

Artizan Style "A" Military Band Organ
For Chippewa Park C.W.Parker Carousel.
THUNDER BAY, ONT. CANADA
Follow the restoration at; http://www.nickelodeonco.com/chippewa-park-artizan-band-organ.html
====================================================================================

Irene & Henk Noordermeer's 1908, 80 key Mortier,
Grand Orchestre "De Danse"
Discovered & Delivered from Belgium, and installed in the Noordermeer's collection, Ontario,Canada
by
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.

Mortier Dance Organ,Discovered & Delivered from Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands, and installed in S. Korea, Gyeongju.
ICS collection, Mr Kyung Hwang.
by
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
(Complete story here)

In 2009 TGCNC moved the big Mortier dance organ "Dansat" from Hilvarenbeek
the Netherlands to Gyeongju, South Korea !
With the help of a lot of local friends.
En 2009 TGCNC a livré depuis les Pays-Bas jusqu'en Corée du Sud un grand orgue de danse Mortier !

WorldWide Service, Restore, Create, Buy and Sell
instruments for over 47 years !
Avec le plus grand soin et dans le monde entier,
nous restaurons, entretenons, créons, achetons et vendons
vos instruments depuis plus de 47 années !