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The Black Forest area of Gennany has many musical memories. This was the birthplace of the larger types of band organs and orchestrions. In Freiburg the finn of M. Welte & Sons held forth from the 1870's until the factory was demolished in an Allied air raid during the Second World War. In the hills above Freihurg is the hamlet of Vohrenbach, home of Imhof & Mukle, the orchestrion builders. The Imhof building still stands. From the collector's point of view it serves a somewhat more ignominious purpose today: that of an auto repair garage. About twelve kilometers from Freiburg via a winding road lies Waldkirch. This town, complete with the ruins of a castle overlooking it from a nearby hillside, looks little different today that it must have looked several decades ago when it was the locale of several of the world's most prominent automatic musical instrument makers. Alas, the firms of Gebr. Bruder and Ruth, two of the most famous band organ builders,have perished. The Weber Brothers' orchestrion factory no longer emits finely built Grandezza, Styria, So/ea, Brabo, Maesto and other instruments. It was fun to spend time in Waldkirch with Mr. DeRoy. He was partial to Weber instruments of all types and was pleased to see that the factory of the Weber Brothers still stood. "WEBER ORCHESTRION" is still boldly lellered on the side of the ex-factory (now converted to apartments) today. One by one Mr. DeRoy checked out the names on his mailing list· about 6,000 names in all! Most names were sent postcards. Most were quickly returned by the post office with the French, Dutch, Belgian or whatever equivalents of "Addressee unknown," or, "No longer in business." But a few did respond, and these were followed up by Mr. DeRoy with an in·person visit. On one trip to the Black Forest we stopped to check on two instruments. Although they were not large nor -8- extremely valuable it was very interesting to see them in their original locations. In the town of Bleibach a small hotel named "Gasthaus Sonne" was still using a Weber orchestrion. It was a very early one that used folding cardboard music. The establishment was so proud of this musical relic that it sold a picture postcard featuring the instrument. In another nearby town, ZeU, I saw an even earlier barrel operated Weber orchestrion with dancing figures at the top. As I recall, one of the instruments we saw that day was available for something like $7000 and the other wasn't for sale. Perhaps one or both have new homes with collectors by now. Mr. DeRoy was very kind to me, and I learned a lot from him. Because of him much information that might never have otherwise seen print made its way into "A Guidebook of Automatic Musical Instruments." Many more notes, musical scales, and bits of historical information from him will be published over the next year or two so that all enthusiasts everywhere can share the information he gave so generously. Mr. DeRoy remembered and loved the instruments from years gone by. As he had access to no restoredinstruments it was many years ago that he last heard the different types of large orchestrions play. He would have enjoyed visiting America - as he intended to do. He would have enjoyed our people and the private and public collections of our country. Mr. DeRoy will never visit America. Early last summer we received word from his daughter, Els (Mrs. Jeff) Baets, that Mr. DeRoy passed away. He will be fondly remembered by many. The musical scene today is somewhat more pleasant for his having passed our way. ---Q. David Bowers
CYLINDER MUSIC BOXES Including antique table top Swiss boxes, orchestra boxes with drums and, bells, bell boxes, and boxes with interchangeable cylinders. A n outstanding group of musical scenes (tableaux), musical pictures, and musical dolls. And, a selection of modern small Swiss boxes of high quality... WONDERFULLY ORNATE BREMOND MUSIC BOX In a cabinet fit for a king! Through our portals have come many music boxes - small ones, large ones, plain ones, ornate ones. But none have been more elaborately crafted than the wonderful Bremond box we offer here. The cabinet of this box, even if it had no musical feature, would be a filling adornment to a palace' It is ornate and beautifully inlaid from top to bottom and from side to side. We have never seen another like it. Measurements are 54 inches high, 41 inches wide, and 22 inches deep. The music box is an interchangeable cylinder Bremond dating from the 1880's. The extra cylinders are stored in either one of two drawers made for the purpose in the lower part of the cabinet. Each cylinder has eight tunes, making a total program of thirty two melodies. The cylinder is arranged in the popular and desired mandolin style which gives an especially bright and cheerful sound to the music. Over the music box is a large canopy inlaid with a motif of a lyre and rare tropical plants. Surmounting the entire music box cabinet is a graceful railing. Below are drawers at the front and sides. These are for the storage of jewels, art. objects, and other treasures. A large mirror·backed display area at the boltom center would be ideal for displaying figurines or other pieces. Our pictures can give only a partial conception of the majesty of this splendid instrument. Color photographs will gladly be sent on request. The instrument is truly fit for a king l Here, then, is an opportunity. $5995.00 (Stock No. BRE-4089) -9- This curved canopy, all inla.id with a lyre and tropical plant scene done in rare woods, gracefully arches above the music box. It is a rare showpiece! The beauty of this Bremond box could be heightened still further (if this is possible!) by putting figurines or objets d'art in the display niches, including the large mirrored one shown above. Here, truly, is a music box worthy of a king or queen! ! This illustration shows just some of th" ma'\Y drawers, hidden compartments, a"d other interesting recesses in this beautiful Bremond music box. Read all about this Brel"'o'1.d in the column to the left.
Page 2: Peering through the front window of
Page 6: In 1963 Eugene DeRoy showed Q. Davi
Page 16: SWISS CYLINDER BOX WITH BELLS Plays
Page 21 and 22: HIGH QUALITY MUSICAL PICTURE With o
Page 26: CHOICE STYLE 240 REGINAPHONE In car
Page 33: BEAUTIFUL 27" UPRIGHT REGINA In ele
Page 38: !MPItESSIVE 24Y2" UPRIGHT POLYPHON
Page 42 and 43: BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONION GRANDFATHER'S
Page 44: 191/8" SnlPHONION MUSIC BOX This Sy
Page 47 and 48: 95/8" KALLIOPE DISC BOX This is a c
Page 49: Although it is difficult to portray
Page 52: BEAUTIFUL BARREL ORGAN With several
Page 56: Evidently Seeburg had extensive pla
Page 61 and 62:
"We were aware that this .problem w
Page 63:
CHOICE WEBER XYLOPHONE PIANO The wo
Page 71:
FISCHER AMPICO STYLE "A" GRAND If y
Page 76 and 77:
BAND ORGANS, DANCE ORGANS A group o
Page 78:
Looking for a small well-built band
Page 83 and 84:
::>copitones sold for close to $400
Page 89:
QUESTION AND ANSWER FORUM We invite
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