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I have come into possession of a nonfunctional family heirloom.
It is a Phoenix organette manufactured in Vienna by Brunnbauer und
Sohns. It was owned by my great aunt who supposedly brought it with
her from Vienna to Cleveland in the late 1800's. It is hard to imagine
this machine and its 18 heavy disks being so precious to her that she,
a seamstress and maid, would carry this with her meager belongings by
train and boat, and train again, to Cleveland.
I must assume that the Schmidt company took over the manufacture
as their (repro) catalogue gives dimensional statistics and shows
pictures of similar instruments in design and with the same Phoenix
logo. However, none matches exactly. The Ariosa 3M is closest in size
except that mine is 1 inch shorter and does not have the side sound
ports but weighs the same 11-1/2 pounds as the Intona #3. The offset
of the "tooth bar" is the same as the Intona but the size is far
different despite the weight similarity.
Is anyone familiar with these instruments? I have searched the forum
Archives and have seen no mention. Also, can anyone suggest the proper
material for bellows replacement? The existing material is a now
fragile cardboard-like substance. It would seem that a leather would
be too flexible.
Thank you.
Daniel E. Marsalek
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