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MMD > Archives > April 2003 > 2003.04.23 > 02Prev  Next


Barrel Piano by Henri Basile of Brussels
By Bjorn Isebaert

I looked up the names Basile and De Mascio in the book

  - S.Godfroid, Bouwers van automatofonen in Vlaanderen.  Proeve van
  catalogus (In: Volksmuziekatelier, Jaarboek V, Provinciaal Trefcentrum
  Baljuwhuis) [Builders of automatic musical instruments in Flanders;
  preliminary catalogue, (In: Folk music workshop, Yearbook V, Provincial
  Meeting Centre "Baljuwhuis")], Galmaarden, 1987, copyright by Stephane
  Godfroid, published by Provinciaal Trefcentrum "Baljuwhuis" Galmaarden
  [Provincial Meeting Centre "Baljuwhuis"], Galmaarden, Belgium

According to his information, Henri Basile was active during the period
1924-1940.  In 1924 his workshop was located at the Rue de la Poste 230
in Brussels.  An advertisement of the same year mentions that the
Maison Basile created a new type of piano, with crossed strings, large
size, 88 notes; they also sold orchestrions and 'electrical pianos'.

In 1925, Basile moved to the Rue de Brabant 116 in Brussels, so the
barrel piano must date from before that time. In the same year, he took
a patent on an electric drive for Italian and French barrel pianos.

Several members of the De Mascio family were active in the mechanical
music business, but I couldn't find the name Dominique, nor the address
20 Rue des plantes.  Seeing, however, that both Antoine and Ernest De
Mascio were active in the business of automatic pianos (ca. 1913-1926),
and they both lived in the region of Brussels, I think it's possible
that Dominique was perhaps a brother of them.

Best wishes,

Bjorn Isebaert
Zottegem, Belgium

 [ See the advert at http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/  -- Robbie


(Message sent Wed 23 Apr 2003, 11:17:57 GMT, from time zone GMT+0200.)

Key Words in Subject:  Barrel, Basile, Brussels, Henri, Piano

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