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Baker-Troll Orchestrion in W. E. Sanford Home
By Paul Grimwood

I'm looking for information on an "automatic house organ" from 1892,
belonging to Senator W. E. Sanford, who represented the senatorial
division of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The organ was installed in his house, "Wesanford", in an alcove
in his dining room, which was certainly large enough to take it,
being two stories high and 50 feet by 28 feet.

The organ was sold in 1938 along with the rest of the house contents,
before the building was demolished.  The 1938 sale catalogue lists:

  'Automatic House Organ made by Baker-Troll & Company, Geneva,
   Switzerland, as fitted to wall embrasure'

The 1892 descriptions call it a pipe organ or orchestrion.  A photo
survives of the room, but no sign of any spot where an organ could
be hidden.

I've looked, and can only see that Baker-Troll made music boxes, but
maybe I haven't found the right site.  Is there any chance that this
instrument might be still in existence in Canada?  Assuming it was
purchased by someone in 1938 and not just trashed.

Paul Grimwood
paul.grimwood@sympatico.ca.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]


(Message sent Wed 18 Jul 2012, 15:46:41 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Baker-Troll, E, Home, Orchestrion, Sanford, W

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