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MMD > Archives > August 1997 > 1997.08.05 > 05Prev  Next


Ariston Organette Discs
By Mike Knudsen

Well, I went home after my posting, checked the Encyclopedia,
and knew someone would correct me.  Glad it was my orgelfreund
Ingmar.  Yes, Ariston is a different manufacturer from Phoenix.
That means there were at least three major makers in Leipzig.
Like the disc music box makers, some of these may also have set up
shop in Berlin.

Complications in remembering names come from there being three
"domains" of naming:

   1. The official name of the company, as in Ehrlich or Phoenix

   2. The major brand name, used on their "flagship" or top-of-line
      products

   3. Other brand names used on lesser products (Diana, Intona),
      and possibly on extra-high-quality product line (as with Lexus,
      Infiniti, and Acura in Japanese cars today).

Physically, I've seen and played three kinds of German disc organettes:

   1. Projectionless metal (usually Zinc) discs, often annular (Phoenix)

   2. As above, but of brown cardboard and not annular (Ariston),
      as described by Ingmar

   3. Metal discs with projections, not annular (and I forget the
      company that used these -- back to Bowers).  These are the easiest
      organettes to tune and repair.

Was it Ingmar who questioned the term "organette" for the larger models?
I've seen and played a 2-foot-square Ariston (?) with well over 30
notes, and the sound does transcend the "-ette" suffix.

However, I get the idea the Bowers' Encyclopedia uses "-ette" for
any organ using free reeds and sitting on a table, unless intended
as a monkey-grinder's hurdy-gurdy.

That reminds me: At least one participant in the Sandusky Band
Organ Rally had a Symphonia or Celestina 20-note roll-playing
organette, to which he'd attached a support pole underneath, and
he was going around grinding it in the monkey manner.  Not a bad
idea!  I had mine there, but just on display.  If you're using Gem
Roller Organs as doorstops, this may be more fun :-)

--Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Tue 5 Aug 1997, 16:48:55 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Ariston, Discs, Organette

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