REUGE created MusicMachine 1 Reloaded based on a futuristic spaceship design proposed by MB&F - whose founder, Maximilian Büsser, is a keen fan of all the great sci-fi films and TV series. In collaboration with ECAL design graduate Max Maertens, MB&F evolved the original spaceship design by another ECAL graduate, Xin Wang, while cleverly incorporating all the essential music box features such as musically tuned combs, pinned cylinders, winding mechanisms, mainspring barrels, regulators, and an acoustically optimised case.
What Büsser and Maertens have created is more visually organic than the original MusicMachine, with the young Berlin-based designer additionally introducing the concept of what he calls “more airflow.”
The MusicMachine series is important for Max Maertens, even an inspirational steppingstone of sorts. When he first saw the original MusicMachine back in 2015 as a design student, it inspired him to change his direction and way of thinking. So it was something of a dream come true for him to work on a redesign of precisely this piece. “But I made it into something that is more aerodynamic, more like my own design language,” he explains. This involved Maertens using more science as a base and looking to aerospace engineering. “The entire piece is in kind of a flow,” he says. This is especially visible in the wings, which now look as if they are in a wind tunnel with invisible airflow around them.”
Based in Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) since 1865, REUGE is considered as the world leader of musical automatons. With more than 155 years of expertise, REUGE manufactures pieces that are technically, acoustically and aesthetically superlative. Combining the motion of an automaton with an exquisite sonority offers an unparalleled experience of the senses. Forward-thinking and innovation define REUGE just as much as its respect for traditional craftsmanship. The Brand relentlessly seeks new materials, original themes and ground-breaking acoustics, making way for the contemporary music automatons of the 21st century. REUGE’s ability to transform inanimate metal into emotion continues to enthral those who seek a true work of art, reaching beyond fleeting trends. While REUGE has a comprehensive collection of both classical and contemporary music automatons, the brand also prides itself on its ability to create bespoke pieces or limited series (like MusicMachine) for discerning clients.
Based in Sainte-Croix (Switzerland) since 1865, REUGE is considered as the world leader of musical automatons. With more than 155 years of expertise, REUGE manufactures pieces that are technically, acoustically and aesthetically superlative. Combining the motion of an automaton with an exquisite sonority offers an unparalleled experience of the senses. Forward-thinking and innovation define REUGE just as much as its respect for traditional craftsmanship. The Brand relentlessly seeks new materials, original themes and ground-breaking acoustics, making way for the contemporary music automatons of the 21st century. REUGE’s ability to transform inanimate metal into emotion continues to enthral those who seek a true work of art, reaching beyond fleeting trends. While REUGE has a comprehensive collection of both classical and contemporary music automatons, the brand also prides itself on its ability to create bespoke pieces or limited series (like MusicMachine) for discerning clients.
Mainplate: nickel-plated brass, decorated with Côtes de Genève.
Mainsprings: wound via propellers.
Barrels: stainless steel; each with 6 heat-blued screws on top; grooved “piston” sides
Regulator: fan in stainless steel
Cylinders: brass
Cylinder supports: nickel-plated brass
Pins hand-applied and hand-polished
Pins per right cylinder: 1,279; pins per left cylinder: 1,399
Combs: steel alloy and lead; 72 teeth per comb
Right cylinder – extracts from:
“Another Brick in the Wall” (1979) written by Roger Waters and originally performed by Pink Floyd
“Smoke on the Water” (1973) written and originally performed by Deep Purple
“Imagine” (1971) written and originally performed by John Lennon
Left cylinder – extracts from:
Star Wars (1977) main title by John Williams
“Imperial March” (1980) by John Williams
Star Trek (1979) main title by Jerry Goldsmith
Limited editions of 33 pieces each in blue, black and red
Approximately 3kg
Main body: anodized aluminium
Outriggers: Bead-blasted and anodised aluminium; black matte-anodised for black version
Dimensions: 381 wide x 476 long x 140mm high
Acoustically-enhancing platform: black wood, matte finish
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