New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-18
TIE HAND-oRGAy BUILDEES ROMANcEs
A GRINDER WHO MADE A FoRrUNE-AN INDEX OF
TAsTE-THE FRENCH GIRL.


The organ builder with coat and waistcoat laid
aside was busiy work when TRIBUNE reporter called
OH recent afternoon. TIand-organs In various stages
-, ,urlc,ion stood npon the benches which ran about
the room On high shelf were piled fifteen or twenty
Instruments which had long ago ceased 10 he useful |"
peripatetic musicians.
81 believe am the only hand organ manufacturer In
this country" said the builder, he lit his little BLACK
nine and blew a cloud Of smoke from his lips; have
been here on this coInor for twenty seven years
long time stick TO place, -ntit But our business
isn't what It used TO be-. and the organ builder shook
his head ~ the profits o former years arose before hH
mind our trade Is fast going 10 the dogs The demand
for rtrcct hand has fallen on 80 or 40 per cent
within ten or fifteen years. People have got SICK anu
tired OF the music and Offer excuse for kicking the
Italian grinder the middle Of the street when he be
comes too administrative Sec how things have changed
since first began To make organs. For many years
Italian immigrants monopolized the organ-grhdlhg
business When the war closed disabled soldiers became
their rival, and beat them on their own ground No"
there are all sorts Of and women engaged In Juggling
or dragging organs about the streets. Il noticeable
too that the Italians do not make much money As they
did years ago People do not now throw dollar bills
around loosely "a they did in flush days hand-organ
was then wonder worth seeing and hearing now fell
low wouldn't 20 around the 10 look at the nstiu-
mcnt much less TO hear IL"
do you know OF any street organi-s who have sue
cpfucd
reporter.
aye. several" replied the builder 4" / remember one
I'm particular lie started of In the spring with his
and did not I'LL late In the winter During this
time he had travelled far west the Mississippi River
and northward 10 Quebec. ON that trip alone he made
So 500 He was badly bitten while In Canada and
swore on that account n at he would go into that
blosed region again and he didn't He took the money
he had made for several years and invested In hand
orgaus he opened store and sold his Instruments az
| yft In TaW q 1851
Hand ORGANS the street variety, continued the
buldcr cost all the way from S25 TO 1928. Concert
organs such used In drinking shops, halls and
travelling shows bring all the way from $1,000 10
SOS 900 Some Of these are complete In the number
Of instruments they represent an orchestra or full
band They contain plccoos, flutes, cnrincts corncts
barjtoncs bases tTangcs, drums and cymbalS."
Does your business extend outside Of New York :"
America Mexico spain, the West Indies, and Il dozen
other places Ny trade in the United States is of course
Are the organs which you send ont Of New York fur
nished with the same class of music as those In use
No BIT Of IT, said the builder with a. 9,nransGyG,
hand organs which send Ia New England are FUR
nished with fair number OF Moody and sankey hymns
waltz or two, and few popular airs The south pre-
ers dance music such "a. rrcs lgs wazes and P9lkas.
fore, Patience, Mascot, and other light operas.
Lively songs which have made hit ut the theatres here
these arc PEEK boo sweet viocts9 Wait I'm tho
clouds roll by and musical sketches from McSorcy
4
popular spaniards and MeIicans take special delight
IN fandangoes minuets and similar music 50 the organs
which We send TO them are furnished entirely with sch
pieces The song Home, Sweet Home Il favorito IN
Kew England Airs from the old italian operas which
demand now Their day has passed Writers Of music
must compose to sit ID" popular ear they expect 10
achieve success have found that out from eIperec
for am not only maker Of organs, but maker OF tunes
How can tell what tho popular pieces are Simply
by keeping my ears and eyes wide open The 5
4 n
huInming IL their way downtown. Music pun
fishers, who always waiting Tor hlt Issue u py
tho thousand copies and IN short time 10 has become
popular enough 20 warrant me Ia putting II into hand
organ SOine these pieces have short life, others ARC
| always acceptable TO the public.
"Hand-Organs like people. get tired Ihey Ret OUT
care The owners bring them here when they become
wheczy out OF tune and We doctor them up
Hero the builder paused for moment, wiped the per
| spiration from his brow, and said; ,-...,.
on the floor" has history worth repeating. Many
years ago, soon after I opened this establishment,
young French girl appeared In the streets OF YORK
az an organ grinder She attracted much attention,
for She was pretty. modest,-nay. do not smie,-and
well-dressed. Sometimes, after playing tune on the
home beyond the Well one day she brought hcr IN
strunent TO for repairs and told her Iwond arrange
the accompaniment for several OF her songs on the
organ She was delighted with my proposition. and
when the work was done went away with happy heart
Her success after that wonderful but II dd not turn
her head Men the street respected her and treated
her courteOusly rough fellows OF them were, too
The money which shOwered Ia upon her was not
spent c1travagantly but was put away In q BoWeIy
bank She had many sutOrs but were successful
in winning her heart one day bronzed young man
from the West her fell In love with her In Tune
never saw the girl after that few years later man
brought the organ she used To play to me Tor repairs
what IL would cost 10 repaired and he went away
He never returned and there the organ has $1,000 iVr
nearly twenty years ~ m wish ht he ppr are
broken, the cylinder crooked and It's voice forever
silAnt-"