HENRI BASILE - BARREL PIANO 1924
Henri Basile was active
during the period 1924-1940; in 1924, his workshop was located at the Rue de la Poste 230
in Brussels;
an advertisement of the same year mentions that the "Maison Basile"
created a new type of piano, with crossed strings, large size, 88 notes;
they also sell orchestrions and 'electrical pianos'.In 1925, Basile moved to the Rue de Brabant 116 in
Brussels,
so the barrel piano must date from before that time. In the same year, he took a
patent on an electric drive for Italian and French barrel pianos.
Several members of the
De Mascio family were active in the mechanical music business, but I couldn't find the
name Dominique,
nor the address Rue des plantes. Seeing, however, that both Antoine and
Ernest De Mascio were active in the business of automatic pianos (ca.1913-1926)
and they
both lived in the region of Brussels, I think it's possible that Dominique was perhaps a
brother of them.
( THIS IS AN EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM
BJORN ISEBART )
VISIT HIS WEB SITE AT
Henri Basile – Fabrique de pianos
et orchestrions 115 Rue De Brabant Bruxelles tel 50.789.
The plaque also has – Medailles Aux Expostions – Brevetes en tous pays
Inside under the piano strings it has
a stamp – Henri Basile – Fabrique de pianos et orchestrions Dernier Systeme
230
Rue De La Poste 230 Schaarbeer Bruxelles
The barrel is made of wood and it is
about 41 inches long and about 45 inches around.
The barrel seems to be covered with paper
and pins and has writing "Dominique de Mascio" Reparations Fabrique de pianos
Automatiques Vente & Achat d’ Occasions 20 Rue Des Plantes, Bruxelles
Not Sure if Mr. Potato Head is part of the original design, although I do know that a Herni Basile made children toys.
