Nothing gets your attention like a FRENCH POSTCARD featuring a HUGE
ORGAN!

The lithographed color photo shows a gigantic Mortier dance hall organ,
with the announcement that it will be sold at public auction on 12
April, 1996, in Saint-Baldoph, Chambery (in the French Alps).  Visible
amongst all the rococo carving of the white and gilt facade is a large
saxophone (fake), tall metal organ pipes (probably fake), and an
accordion (probably real).

Our member Philippe Rouille was an expert advisor present at the
auction.  He writes:

"The 84-Key Mortier Organ was sold last week for 225.000 FF.  After
premium and taxes, that is just under 250.000 FF. The sale was below
the estimated 300k/400k, but

   1) the market is very lazy at the moment;

   2) the instrument was very big (almost 18 feet high), and needed
      a good revision [rebuilding], and

   3) Chambery is a bit far away ... but it would have been quite a
      job to move the organ elsewhere!"

My French skills are meager, so here is the descriptive text in French
from the postcard I received, including the description of a "barrel
piano" also auctioned.  (US-standard character set on the PC. I hope
that the accented-e and -a characters survive the e-mail journey!)

                "Spectaculaire orgue de danse Mortier"

"84 touches, plus de 400 tuyaux, dbut de sicle, avec qualques
transformations ultrieures (dont adjonction d'un accorden et d'un
saxophone).  12 registres, 22 notes au chant, 18 au contrechant, 10
l'accompagnement, 8 basses, percussions.  Trs belle faade sculpte et
peinte.  Rpertoire sur cartons anciens et modernes (Paul Eynard),
environ 2 heures.  L'ensemble fonctionne, mais ncessite une rvision
gnrale.

Dimensions: environ largeur 8,50 m, hauteur 5,50 m, profondeur 2 m.  Se
d'monte en plusieurs parties pour le transport (plus gros bloc:  env.
215 x 215 x 100 cm).  Dmontage et transport  la charge de l'acheteur.
Assistance possible d'un technicien sur place.

Il sera galement vendu un piano mcanique  cylindre, vers 1920,
Manufacture da Buisson Rond  Chanbry, <<Savoy's Jazz>>, hauteur 1,89 m,
largeur 1,25 m.  Il fonctionne, mais  rviser.  Tambour, cymbales,
tambourin, woodblock, 4 cloches.  3 gros cylindres  10 airs chacun."