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MMD > Archives > December 1997 > 1997.12.01 > 08Prev  Next


Ariston Crank Organ
By Jeffrey Borinsky

In MMD971130 Todd Augsburger asks about the lettering:

>  The
>  Hermann
>  London
>  126. 127. 128.
>  London-Wall.
>  GERMAN MANUFACTURE

London Wall is a street in the City of London (there are a few
surviving fragments of the actual wall that enclosed London in ancient
times and this street runs along the course of the wall).  The numbers
may well be ordinary street addresses, though the usual British way to
express this would have been 126-128 or 126/128.

In those days, when British was believed to be best, a German
import might well have been thought inferior, and declaring "GERMAN
MANUFACTURE" seems a little odd.  Maybe this is why it looks like an
afterthought.  I hasten to add that my comments are on the prejudices
of the time and not a reflection on the quality of either German or
British goods.

Jeffrey Borinsky

 [ Except for brief periods about the World Wars, German products were,
 [ and are, highly regarded in the States; the declaration on the old
 [ organ does seem odd.  Perhaps it was a requirement that imports be
 [ labeled so (e.g., 'Made in China' nowadays!).  -- Robbie


(Message sent Mon 1 Dec 1997, 09:12:28 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Ariston, Crank, Organ

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