Rick & Betty Cooley
Olde Tyme Piano Shoppe of Hockessin Del USA
(COTP)
"Blessing Co. 3 Figured Robot Band"
1996-1997 Picture Progress report
March 15 2024
I have recently had a number of emails seeking information on the Blessing Co.
Three figured Robot Band that my company (The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.) restored for Rick Cooley back in 1996. We always send our customers picture progress of how their instrument is coming along and that the restoration work was completed to their satisfaction.
Luckily back in 1996 we did not have the luxury of digital photography, other wise the following collection of "Progress Picture Reports" I sent to Rick Cooley would of probably been lost many years ago,
Please also take a moment to read a little of my Memories on the Home web page listed
"Memories of Rick Cooley"
Also if you have any information, pictures or stories you would like included about Rick, The Blessing band or anything else please submit to myself Ron Schmuck at [email protected].
The pictures were taken from photographs so you can download and correct to view right side up. Eventually I will group all pictures to cover just the accordion player or drummer etc. Also the instrument can be played by MIDI (which was very early for 1995) and Paper music roll. There is only 2 music rolls for this instrument. They were very special as the not only supply the music notes that the piano and accordion play but also the percussion for the Drummer and the organ pipes located in his chest, also notice his lips pucker and move when he is whistling. Also all of the many movements of the figures are encoded in this roll which uses a system called duplexing so the 88 holes in the music roll can do many functions when more then 1 crosses the trackerbar at the same time. When the Blessing Band was owned by Walter Bellum They had a phonograph record that played with the band that gave voices to the figures. more will be posted on this part of the restoration very soon. Stay Tuned, Ron Schmuck
www.nickelodeonco.com & [email protected]
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
I have recently had a number of emails seeking information on the Blessing Co.
Three figured Robot Band that my company (The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.) restored for Rick Cooley back in 1996. We always send our customers picture progress of how their instrument is coming along and that the restoration work was completed to their satisfaction.
Luckily back in 1996 we did not have the luxury of digital photography, other wise the following collection of "Progress Picture Reports" I sent to Rick Cooley would of probably been lost many years ago,
Please also take a moment to read a little of my Memories on the Home web page listed
"Memories of Rick Cooley"
Also if you have any information, pictures or stories you would like included about Rick, The Blessing band or anything else please submit to myself Ron Schmuck at [email protected].
The pictures were taken from photographs so you can download and correct to view right side up. Eventually I will group all pictures to cover just the accordion player or drummer etc. Also the instrument can be played by MIDI (which was very early for 1995) and Paper music roll. There is only 2 music rolls for this instrument. They were very special as the not only supply the music notes that the piano and accordion play but also the percussion for the Drummer and the organ pipes located in his chest, also notice his lips pucker and move when he is whistling. Also all of the many movements of the figures are encoded in this roll which uses a system called duplexing so the 88 holes in the music roll can do many functions when more then 1 crosses the trackerbar at the same time. When the Blessing Band was owned by Walter Bellum They had a phonograph record that played with the band that gave voices to the figures. more will be posted on this part of the restoration very soon. Stay Tuned, Ron Schmuck
www.nickelodeonco.com & [email protected]
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
All New costumes were made for the three figures using authentic Bavarian 1890's patterns.
Project now moved onto the creation of a German beer garden type stage. Each of the figures was newly installed on separate stages complete with steel frames and heavy duty casters. Complete with hard wood floors and new costumes. The wall behind the Blessing band is stucco finished complete with carved posts including special carved Lions which I made to Ricks request. The roof is suspended with 2 12ft street lamps. The entire band can be disassembled and fit into a 16ft cube van for its trip from our shops at Mount Forest Ontario Canada to Ricks showrooms at Hockessin Del, USA.
Photo of myself (Ron Schmuck, 1997) at completion of the Cooley Blessing three figured robot band.