Mechanical Music Digest  Gallery
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
MMD > Gallery > Pictures > pierreVanRoy

Pierre VanRoy
Pierre Van Roy of Belgium
by Björn Isebaert (020204 MMDigest)

In MMD Digest 020202 Lelland Fletcher asked for more info about a barrel piano with the name "Pierre Van Roy" on it.  Those who know the history of the museum at Utrecht will certainly know this name, for it was Van Roy who sold the magnificent "Aalster Gavioli" and the Philipps Paganini to the museum.

Pierre (officially Petrus) Van Roy was born at Brussels in 1888.  Initially, he worked at the car company D'Ieteren (which is still active today) where he polished the bodywork of the cars.  Then he worked for François Lecour at Schaarbeek, a firm that manufactured roll-operated orchestrions.  He went to Paris for some time (where he worked for Gavioli) but he returned to Belgium in 1911 to marry Désiré Goethals, the daughter of an organ renter at Aalst.

In 1914, he and his wife return to Schaarbeek where he starts working at the famous firm of Joseph Tullio at the Rue Brichaut.  Soon he becomes the 'chef d'atelier' of the firm, where mainly barrel pianos and orchestrions are manufactured.  (See the picture: Van Roy is the man standing at the left side.)

In 1916 or 1917 Van Roy starts his own shop at the Rue des Goujons at Anderlecht, where he specializes in barrel pianos.  Most of his clients come from Aalst, and during the 1920s he rents and sells several instruments (and also organs) to dance hall and café owners at Aalst.

To avoid travelling too much, he decides to return to Aalst in 1927, at the Meuleschettestraat 12.  His son-in-law Alexander Cornand (Cornant?) arranges most of the music.  But with the demise of mechanical music, Van Roy starts to specialize in 'normal' pianos and tuning of instruments.  He dies at Aalst in 1963.

Attached is another picture of Pierre Van Roy and also a barrel piano (manufacturer unknown) as an illustration to the information about the barrel piano by Mazzoletti.

Best wishes,

Björn Isebaert
Belgium
http://www.hooghuys.org/
4 Feb 2002 19:27:23 +0100
 


pierreVanRoy1.jpg (19 kb)

pierreVanRoy_Tullio.jpg (17 kb)

pierreVanRoy2.jpg (15 kb)


04 February 2002

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