It's summer! And with summer comes the occasional background "music" of the heat-wave saviour: the ice cream van. Since the 1950s the ding ding ding cacophony of fake tinny bells has been projected out wherever such a beast locates itself, bringing joy and excitement to all. Before that a hand bell was frequently used, showing that the absence of electronica doesn't impair noise pollution ability.
But perhaps you're disheartened, sat in a cubicle somewhere imprisoned away from the glorious beach-side high streets that such vans like to perambulate around. Fear not, modern Internet technology has (of course) made these happy sounds available to all MP3-enabled persons. Notably you can download a variety of tracks from WFMU's Beware of the Blog here and here. These include the Mr. Softee Tune and Pink Panther Pops.
Super-keen icecream van tune fans can even buy a CD or two - although worryingly according to the seller "The quality of the CD has been reduced to prevent it from being used for commercial purposes", raising the possibility that there is somehow a way of making the van music sound less hi-fidelity.
15/06/07 Update: Matt kindly wrote in to advise that you can now buy much higher quality ice cream tunes on CD from Chime Disc.
Ice cream van facts:
- A new ice cream van costs between £20,000 and £30,000 (a few years ago anyway).
- The modern day chime-magic costs about £220.
- It is illegal to play your van's ice cream music if it is not between noon and 7pm, but you can still use a hand-bell to announce your presence.
Comments
Van Music
We had a wonderful Ice-cream Man come to an event I held a few weeks back and he mentioned that he really wanted the Greensleeves tune for his van - I really want to try and purchase it for him as a thank you however I have know idea where to start or what I'm looking for
Any help?
try www.microminiatures.com
try www.microminiatures.com harmony 64
I have an original set of
I have an original set of ice cream van chimes that play greensleeves if you still want them?I have a lot of old wind up chimes needing repaired and would be prepeared to swap them for any old ones he has that I could use for parts.
Public domain tune
Greensleeves is a very old tune, so old (first published in 1580) that it's public domain.
So nobody has to be paid for the tune.
A performance of it, in a format that will work with the van, is a different matter. That will cost you, but it should be cheaper than a copyrighted tune.
Last time I was inside an ice cream van, the music player was a simple wind-up clockwork music box, run through a tinny sounding amplifier. Not too easy to reprogram - you'd need to open the music box and either replace the wheel or move the little pins around.
I'm sure the vans use CD or MP3 players now.
Getting Greensleeves to your friend could be done by Googling for "greensleeves midi" and saving the MIDI to a CD or file that can be played in the van.
Ice Cream Van Music
Can anyone tell me if it is possible to buy a cd of ice cream tuck/van music as ive been searching and searching for one for my brother. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Sorry i meant truck there,
Sorry i meant truck there, not tuck.
Hey, I'm not too sure where
Hey, I'm not too sure where you'd buy such a thing, but I bet it exists!
If you are happy to make a CD yourself for your brother, you can download some MP3 files of the lovely little tunes here and here.
Greensleeves
You can buy the C.D. at Frosty Boy Distributors. I got mine at Majors Wholesalers in Perth Western Australia. Im sure he would post you one.
microminitures stoke uk sell
microminitures stoke uk sell the cds
if u cant get the cd email
if u cant get the cd email me ille compy mine 4 u r1_dave@hotmail.co.uk
INVENTRON KIDDIE CALL CHIMES
I am looking to buy some Inventron Kiddie -Call electronic ice cream van chimes (working or not) I would like to buy the Tri Tune or the unitune or even the 5 tune box.Please mail me with what you have for sale. Or do you know anyone who is selling them.
Thank you
INVENTRON KIDDIE CALL CHIMES
INVENTRON KIDDIE CALL CHIMES
I am looking to buy some Inventron Kiddie -Call electronic ice cream van chimes (working or not) I would like to buy the Tri Tune or the unitune or even the 5 tune box.Please mail me with what you have for sale. carnivalicecream@aol.com Or do you know anyone who is selling them.
Thank you
I NEED a tinny version of
I NEED a tinny version of greensleeves; it hypnotises me. I think it's possibly the most beautiful sound in the world.
Ice Cream Van Chimes
Ice Cream Van Chimes are made by a guy that does it for a hobby.
A trip to www.smartaudio.co.uk is well worth a visit
Post new comment