Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

Spring Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > March 2000 > 2000.03.19 > 03Prev  Next


Phoenix Organette by Brunnbauer, Vienna
By Daniel E. Marsalek

-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMD --

I have come into possession of a nonfunctional family heirloom.
It is a Phoenix organette manufactured in Vienna by Brunnbauer und
Sohns.  It was owned by my great aunt who supposedly brought it with
her from Vienna to Cleveland in the late 1800's.  It is hard to imagine
this machine and its 18 heavy disks being so precious to her that she,
a seamstress and maid, would carry this with her meager belongings by
train and boat, and train again, to Cleveland.

I must assume that the Schmidt company took over the manufacture
as their (repro) catalogue gives dimensional statistics and shows
pictures of similar instruments in design and with the same Phoenix
logo.  However, none matches exactly.  The Ariosa 3M is closest in size
except that mine is 1 inch shorter and does not have the side sound
ports but weighs the same 11-1/2 pounds as the Intona #3.  The offset
of the "tooth bar" is the same as the Intona but the size is far
different despite the weight similarity.

Is anyone familiar with these instruments?  I have searched the forum
Archives and have seen no mention.  Also, can anyone suggest the proper
material for bellows replacement?  The existing material is a now
fragile cardboard-like substance.  It would seem that a leather would
be too flexible.

Thank you.
Daniel E. Marsalek


(Message sent Sun 19 Mar 2000, 16:55:07 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Brunnbauer, Organette, Phoenix, Vienna

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page