Bill Chapman wrote about the Alexander & Pils harmonium:

> Interesting, the interior wood is mostly lined with a
> blue paper.  Insect protection(?)

Bill,  Probably this was used for sealing the wood.  European fairground
organs, street organs, etc., are commonly found with paper glued to the
inside of feeders (pumping bellows) and other components.  Often used
was common newspaper. In fact, it is sometimes possible to date an
instrument by the content of the paper, or at least when it was last
worked on.

For instance, my Wilhelm Bruder Sohne organ had Dutch newsprint all
over the inside of the pump.  While there was no date anywhere, one page
showed the release of the motion picture "Roman Holiday" which debuted
in 1953.  This suggests that there had been a pump rebuild sometime
during that year.  This dovetailed with the knowledge that Henk Mohlmann
had serviced the instrument several times during the 1940's and 50's.
Interesting what we can learn from those that went before us.

Rebuilders, sign and date your work and include an address, if possible.
It may help some future historian.

Bob Conant