by Björn Isebaert (030423 MMDigest)
Fabrique de Piano-orchestrions automatiques
La maison BASILE a créé un nouveau
modèle de piano
cordes croisés grand format 88 notes
dernier système
Orchestrions et pianos électriques
de tous genres et de toutes marques
-------------------------
Factory of automatic piano-orchestrions
The BASILE house has created a new model of
overstrung 88-note grand piano, final system
Orchestrions and electric pianos of all kinds
and brands
[A barrel piano by Henri Basile of Brussels, fitted with a wooden cylinder pinned by noteur Dominique de Mascio, was described in 030422 MMDigest.]
I looked up the names Basile and De Mascio in the book
- S.Godfroid, Bouwers van automatofonen in Vlaanderen. Proeve van catalogusAccording 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: 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 Stéphane Godfroid, published by Provinciaal Trefcentrum
"Baljuwhuis" Galmaarden [Provincial Meeting Centre "Baljuwhuis"], Galmaarden, Belgium
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.
The advert of Henri Basile, pictured above, is taken from the book by Stephane Godfroid with permission from the author.
Hope this helps !
Best wishes,
Björn Isebaert
Zottegem, Belgium
23 Apr 2003 13:17:57 +0200
23 April 2003