> From: "Augsburger" <allmax@bright.net>
> To: "Mechanical Musical Digest" <rolls@foxtail.com>,
> Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 00:07:35 -0400
>
> Subject: Ariston Organette Discs
>
> Ingmar Krause and MMD members, ( Please, anyone, join in! )
> Ingmar Krause kindly replied to my initial inquiry:

well... I reply to whatever I think of being able to reply...

> I received the Ariston Organette this week, and began inspection this
> evening. The organ is a 24-key model (13 inch diameter disc), as you
> suggest is most common. It is in playing condition, although nothing close
> to mint. It appears to have had work done at some point--there is evidence
> of recent regluing--but I'm not confident it was "professional" quality
> work.

Now I am astonished. The 24-key ones normally arn`t called "organette"!
The word "organette" implements, that it is a little instrument.
Therefor I asked if 16-key or 19-key. The 24-key ones are called Ariston Organ.
13 inch? Wait, thats 13 * 2.54 cm ~=~ 33 cm. This seems OK to me.

Of course it has done work: After being sold some 90 to 100 years ago.

I would be interested in the "Box-Number". Evry Instrument (="Box") has its
own fabrication-number. Mostly to be found on the underside or on the underside
of the top-wood (U have to look straight up from where the reeds sit).
I can give u a quite precise date of building, if u give it to me.

>(status-explanations deleted)

Its hard to give any answers while not being able to see, what u exactly mean.
I just can give u this offer (which I can give to everyone):
1000 DM for a complete restoration of a 24-key Ariston plus forwarding costs.

> The existing discs are numbers 131, 1343, 1939, 3549, and 3672, and have
> minor damage to some slots. Is this likely due to excessive finger
> pressure, or just normal wear? Are these numbers already in your archives?

"Slots" - as u name them - have three reasons:
Either these discs have been played very often
or the/some keys r pulling up
or both.

    0131: Home, sweet home
    1343: -
    1939: Gavotte out of "Mignon"
    3549: -
    3672: -

as it seems r not all of them in our archive.

> I know I've asked many questions, but I find this to be a very interesting
> organ. I'd love hearing from anyone who has either advice or experience, or
> is just plain curious!

Nevermind about asking questions. Indeed this is a nice and interesting organ.
The way it "reads" the discs is about the same as in bigger organs with books
(=> keys). Therefor we always take one of them with us when travelling with
our hollaendischen Strassenkonzertdrehorgel. We show the ppl how the big one
works with this instrument as example.

At the moment there r five such instruments in our house:

    Number one:   An old one which has been restored. Herophon-Pictures were added.
    Number two:   A new one. Built in Swiss. Top removable. Doubble-Reed. Black.
    Number three: A new one. Looks nice. Much volume, so one can play slowly.
    Number four:  A very old one (1885). Black. Nice sound.
    Number five:  A not as old one (later as 1905). In restoration by me (90%done).

Number one is hardly played. Number two and three we take on tour with us.
Number four is my very own one. Number five is going to be sold to Aalen.

> Thanks!

No prob.

> - Todd Augsburger
> allmax@bright.net
                                                    greetings by(e) InK
--
ERlanger drehORGEL-Trio, Familie Krause, erorgelt@balloon.franken.de