Please, can someone tell me what B.A.B. stands for? It is mentioned
frequently in recent MMD postings but no reference is made to what this
means.
Thanks,
Kevin McElhone, Northants, UK
[ This explanation by Matthew Caulfield is published at
[ http://www.wurlitzer-rolls.com/index6.html :
[
[ "The B.A.B. Organ Company, Brooklyn, N.Y., grew out of a partnership
[ formed in the 1920's between two Italian-Americans, Ervista Bona and
[ Andrew Antoniazzi. The partnership was later expanded to include
[ Dominic Brugnolotti, and from the initials of these three men the
[ company took its name.
[
[ "According to an interview with Mr. Antoniazzi taped by Tim Trager,
[ the company originally made barrel-operated street pianos, later
[ expanding into the organ business. Tim Trager's research suggests
[ that B.A.B. took over the book music department of the Berni Organ
[ Company, included in which acquisition were foot-operated book
[ punching machines from Gavioli's New York Bond Street office, headed
[ by Louis Berni, Gavioli's agent for America and Canada."
[
[ Gordon Forcier wrote in 971216 MMDigest that he inspected one of
[ the few organs built by the firm, instead of being a conversion.
[ Labeled "B.A.B. Organ Works" on the front decal, the names Bona,
[ Antoniozzi and Brugnolotti were found stamped on the wind chest.
[
[ Since the letters signify the proper names of three individuals (not
[ one person like "JFK"), they are written with the period following.
[
[ Much more information about Wurlitzer and B.A.B. music rolls will be
[ found at http://www.wurlitzer-rolls.com/ -- Robbie
|