A leading maker of organettes was the Euphonika Musikwerke (Leipzig).
One of the brands was Herophon, one of the most unusual organettes of
all.
Most Herophones use a square tune sheet which is fastened in a fixed
position on the top of the instrument. Some models used round discs,
these are rare today. To sound the notes the entire organ mechanism
revolves beneath the music sheet.
The Herophone was available in the following models:
Herophonette I, using 26 cm cardboard tune sheets, 18 reeds,
39 x 39 x 30 cm black case with gold engraving
Herophonette II, using 26 cm metal tune sheets; same as model I,
but with more powerful reeds
Herophon 0, I, II and III, using 33 cm cardboard or metal tune sheets
(the user's option), 24 reeds, 48 x 48 x 30 cm case. Higher numbered
models have stronger and louder reeds
Herophon Excelsior IV, also with 24 reeds, 51 x 51 x 32 cm case.
Two models with different reeds.
Herophons were extremely popular and thousands were sold. Most were
of the regular Herophon (0 to III) style.
Source: Bowers' Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments
Jan Kijlstra
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