Limonaire Frères
Encyclopedia
Limonaire Frères were an amusement
ride and street organ
builder, based in Paris
, France
, during the 19th and early 20th century. In the heyday of La Belle Époque
, only the other Parisian firm of Gavioli
was larger.
Started by the Limonaire brothers in 1839, the company became famous for their elegant Art Nouveau
facades and unique orchestral sound. After restructuring in 1887, the company expanded so well based on book-based organs, that they opened a factory in the German
Black Forest
town of Waldkirch
, center of fairground organ building industry. This became the start of the height of the company, producing organs under the brand name "Orchestronphone" trade name, often incorporating a bioscope. After the death of Anselmo Gavioli
in 1902, the Gavioli business had started to decline, and eventually its remains and patents were bought from the administrators by Limonaire Frères in 1912. A number of engineers choose not to transfer, and went on to build their own organ companies, including Carl Frei
.
The confiscation of the German factory in 1917 during World War I
, signalled the end of peak prduction. Returned to the company in 1921, in 1926 Limonaire sold their German business to Alfred Bruder, who continued building organs.
Limonaire never opened an office in the United States
, due to the imposition from 1892 of high import tariffs by the United States Government. In 1893, carousel builder William Herschell traveled to London
, England
to meet Limonaire employee Eugene de Kleist
. Backed by Herschell, in 1893 DeKeist set up band organ production in North Tonawanda, New York
, founding the North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory
. As parts were not subject to the import tariffs, many of the companies early organs had Limonaire components.
Today, due to their fine note and high quality, Limonaire organs are considered highly collectable.
Amusement
Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure...
ride and street organ
Street organ
A street organ is a mechanical organ designed to play in the street. The operator of a street organ is called an organ grinder. The two main types are the smaller German street organ and the larger Dutch street organ....
builder, based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, during the 19th and early 20th century. In the heyday of La Belle Époque
La Belle Epoque
La Belle Epoque is a barge of the Belgian Spitz category. She was built in 1930 to serve carrying timber. In 1995 she was renovated and now serves as a Boutique Hotel Barge on the Burgundy Canal.-History:...
, only the other Parisian firm of Gavioli
Gavioli
Gavioli & Cie were a Franco–Italian organ builder company that manufactured fairground organs in both Italy and later France.Gavioli was founded in 1806 in Modena, Italy, by Giacomo Gavioli . Giacamo's hobby was the development of automatic playing musical instruments like bird organs and flute...
was larger.
Started by the Limonaire brothers in 1839, the company became famous for their elegant Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
facades and unique orchestral sound. After restructuring in 1887, the company expanded so well based on book-based organs, that they opened a factory in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
town of Waldkirch
Waldkirch
Waldkirch is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is known as "the place of mechanical organs", where fairground organs are manufactured and played on the streets from well-known manufacturers, such as A. Ruth and Sohn, Bruder and Carl Frei .-Sights:* The Catholic Church St...
, center of fairground organ building industry. This became the start of the height of the company, producing organs under the brand name "Orchestronphone" trade name, often incorporating a bioscope. After the death of Anselmo Gavioli
Gavioli
Gavioli & Cie were a Franco–Italian organ builder company that manufactured fairground organs in both Italy and later France.Gavioli was founded in 1806 in Modena, Italy, by Giacomo Gavioli . Giacamo's hobby was the development of automatic playing musical instruments like bird organs and flute...
in 1902, the Gavioli business had started to decline, and eventually its remains and patents were bought from the administrators by Limonaire Frères in 1912. A number of engineers choose not to transfer, and went on to build their own organ companies, including Carl Frei
Carl Frei
Carl Frei was a German organ builder, composer and music arranger who founded a company that manufactured fairground and street organs....
.
The confiscation of the German factory in 1917 during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, signalled the end of peak prduction. Returned to the company in 1921, in 1926 Limonaire sold their German business to Alfred Bruder, who continued building organs.
Limonaire never opened an office in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, due to the imposition from 1892 of high import tariffs by the United States Government. In 1893, carousel builder William Herschell traveled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to meet Limonaire employee Eugene de Kleist
Eugene de Kleist
Baron Frederick Joseph Eugene de Kleist , was a pioneering German organ builder, who in founding the North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory, started the American style of Band organs....
. Backed by Herschell, in 1893 DeKeist set up band organ production in North Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south border...
, founding the North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory
North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory
The North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory was a street organ organ manufacturing company and building, locted in North Tonawanda, New York. Started by expatriate German Eugene de Kleist with backing from Allan Herschell, the company was later purchased by the Wurlitzer company.-Foundations:In 1892,...
. As parts were not subject to the import tariffs, many of the companies early organs had Limonaire components.
Today, due to their fine note and high quality, Limonaire organs are considered highly collectable.