Angelo Rulli wrote (08-11-96):

> Subject: Re:New Street Organs
>
> There are several makers of new street organs, primarily located in
> Europe and England. MMD subscriber Phil Jamison is currently compiling
> a complete listing of all makers.  For the moment, it is important to
> note the following makers, each of whom provides many different sizes
> and options:

As a matter of fact: England is a part of Europe, and not a continent
on its own.

> From Germany, these roll-operated organs: Delieka, Raffi,
> Yager and Brommer.  Hofbauer also offers chip-operated organs.

In Germany you will find much more builders as listed here, not to
speak about Belgium and Holland!

> From England: McCarthy, Pell, Dean. Pell also offers chip organs.
> Book operated organs.

English organs, most of the time, are not street-organs, "draaiorgels"
as we call them, but fairground organs.

> From France:  Ludion.  There are at least 6-8 other makers, plus
> another dozen or so organs that can be custom ordered.

It will be hard to negotiate with French builders: they will not be able
to speek any other language but french, most of them do not offer a street
organ in the true "draaiorgel"-tradition. However, accepting the
differences in sound, you might find nice organs in France.

> Those seriously interested in street organs and organ grinding might
> want to consider joining the British Organ Grinders Association. Hal
> O'Rourke, a MMD subscriber, can provide details about joining BOGA.
>
> The complete listing should be available in the near future for posting
> in the MMD. During 1997, there might also be one or two articles
> published in the  Musical Box Society News Bulletin about new organs.

I will collect the names and adresses of the major German, Dutch and
Belgian street-organ builders, as well as those from some makers of parts
like books a.s.o. Will take a couple af weeks.

 [ Editor's Note:
 [
 [ Thanks for the offer to collect more names and addresses for
 [ us.  When possible, please get the Fax number if there is one.
 [ I've personally found the FAX to be a great tool for international
 [ correspondence.  A late-night 1 minute fax call is cheap, and
 [ it arrives at the beginning of the European business day.  If
 [ they reply at the end of their business day, the reply is back
 [ for us the next morning.  I've done all my FAX correspondence
 [ in English.  It is an embarrassment to me that my European
 [ correspondents write (and speak) English fluently, and I
 [ don't read, write, or speak any European language at all.
 [ However, this is the case, and appreciate the fact that
 [ the replies generally come back in English.
 [
 [ Jody