Hello, I am a new subscriber and I found this site while researching
the NOR-COS Pocket Organ, a type of roller harmonica.  Recently I was
at an auto swap meet in Dunkirk, New York, and a gentleman was selling
several of these.  They were as described here in the archives by Mr.
Ed Schmidt, 2004, Angelo Rulli 8/97 and Marty Roenigk 8/97.

Red plastic, with two extra rolls, a mimeograph sheet of instructions
and a three-cent postcard to get a list of additional rolls available.
The address on the card is NORCOS Organ Co., Inc., Berry Road, Fredonia,
New York (no zone or zip code).  Packed neatly in a plain gray box with
tissue paper.

He explained that he had found them on an attic pick at Costello's
Music Store in Fredonia, New York, shortly after it closed in 2005.
The store was there since the 1930s.  He had an original store ad
and the cost was $3.25.  He said that the story he got was that a
competitor had purchased the patent and wanted these off the market
asking that remaining models be destroyed, which explains why there are
not a lot of these around, and why they popped-up in multiple units.

My research of the patent number (2200430) on mine, which was issued to
Harry Pullen in 1940, led to another link that shows Vincent A. Costello
of Fredonia, New York, was issued patent number 2694333 in 1954, so
that dates these specifically to that year.  And V. Costello was the
man responsible for the Red Plastic Nor-Cos Pocket Organ.

I have further proof in that I purchased all that he had and they came
in the original shipping boxes, shipped from Vincent Costello, Nor-Cos
Organ Company, Fredonia, New York, to the New York Band Instrument
Company, 268 Fourth Ave., New York, NY.

I also have some unpacked units from the NOSCO plastic moulding company
in Erie, Pennsylvania, who made the cases for Mr. Costello, along with
some parts from defective machines.  All labels intact.

If you have a damaged one I most likely will be able to help you.  I'm
not sure how I am going to market these at this time.  Most likely that
popular auction site?  But it will be a unique opportunity for serious
collectors to own one of a very limited number of instruments from
1954.  From what I've read here and what I have, there can't be more
that a few hundred out there.  I'm not sure if I can sell them through
here, the Editor will have to let me know on that.  As well as how to
post some pictures (the box full of loose units looks really cool).

Thank You,
Ray Lewandowski
helmut@buffalo.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]