[ This message, forwarded from Pete Woodworth, appeared
 [ in MMDigest 960904.11
 [
 [> Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 13:59:18 -0700
 [> From: Mike Moran <moran@chbs.mhs.ciba.com>
 [> Subject: "Super Accordeon Jazz" Orchestrion
 [>
 [> I have a large 2m x 1.5m x 60cm orchestrion with accordion noise,
 [> xylophone, percussion, cymbal, 2 drums etc. but not working.
 [>
 [> Would you have an idea of where I get more information about
 [> the machine (it's not in Bowers' book), especially the maker?
 [> (especially to figure out how to get it restored and working.)
 [>
 [> Many thanks, Mike Moran

I read your message about 'Super Accordeon Jazz'.  What is an
accordion noise for you?  Does it have one or two accordions inside?

You wrote the word 'Accordeon' like in French, and if it is the
name of this instrument, it came perhaps from Europe and particularly
from France.

In the south of France you had a big firm named Amelotti, in Nice
on the cote d'Azur.  They made instruments named 'Accordeo Jazz'
with (one or two) accordions on the top or in the case, with
different systems:

 1/ with mechanical fingers and the (one or two) accordions are
inside the case and they don't move, only the fingers move.

 2/ (one or two) mechanical accordions on top, without fingers,
they moved with a bellows system.

On the top of the Amelotti's instruments you find also percussion:
bass drum, narrow drum, cymbal and wood blocks.

The cases are massive, sometimes with inlaid work, typically
new style and often with lights -- blue, white and red!  It was
always equipped with a pneumatic system with paper rolls (67 keys).
The golden age was about 1925.

If you are interested you can contact me.

Best regards from France

Francoise Dussour
Mirecourt (F) 15.11.1998
fdussour@club-internet.fr