Antique Ariston Antique Organ Piece, Circa 1890. With Cardboard Discs. Works Perfectly

Lovely antique Ariston barrel organ with wooden box, made in 1890. It has been revised and adjusted, and works perfectly. It provides a great sound. This barrel organ is very old and comes with two cardboard records, also vintage. It has a smart wooden box with turned pillars in the corners, which are supported by four legs on which the instrument sits. The sides are engraved with a slim rectangular motive with four fleur-de-lys, one in each corner. On one side we can see the engraved brand name, Ariston. Ariston is the registered trade mark of an old model of barrel organ with crank and reels system, which was invented by Paul Ehrlich in Leipzig out of an older invention of himself, the Orchestrionette. The Ariston organ was a small model thought for domestic use, and worked with perforated cardboard records. It was a very popular model from which 500.000 units were sold. The instrument keeps the original crank made of silvery metal and with wooden handle. The box shows a dark walnut finish, very sober and elegant. On top there is a nice golden metal arm which is designed to read the records perforations, in order to play the melodies. It could be said that it is an ancestor of the later gramophones reproducers. The arm is very well preserved and we can see the word PATENT in the place where the device is attached to the box. The top of the arm is decorated with elegant ornamental motives. At the bottom of the box there is a piece of paper, the remaining of a label with the name and address of the original distributor. The charm, the ancient age and the excellent sound of this barrel organ turn it into a unique piece, worthy of the best collection. Measurements: 400 mm width x 240 mm height.