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Wilro-Demey Orchestrions
By Jan Kees de Ruijter

Wilro-Demey was the trade name for François De Mey, who was situated at 
Lange Beeldekensstraat 75 in Antwerp during the 1920's.  Little is 
known of him, but at least two orchestrions are known by that name. 
They show a close relationship to the Arburo orchestrions of Arthur 
Bursens.  They play the 88-note Arburo rolls.  One of them is located 
in the Musical Museum of Clive and Lester Jones in Chichester, England. 
The other one used to be in the Koksijde collection of Daniel Dagraed, 
but was sold to Japan. 

Of course De Mey made other instruments too.  In my possession is a 
little café orchestrion, containing piano, mandolin, and xylophone, and 
playing Popper rolls.  This instrument also bears the Wilro-Demey 
label.  I do not know whether he built these instruments himself or was  
just a dealer.

Jan Kees de Ruijter


(Message sent Thu 5 Jun 2008, 07:10:17 GMT, from time zone GMT+0200.)

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