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BrianShaw

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  1. or wireless... RF, laser, etc. Why not?? Maybe mental telepathy will be next!
  2. You guys make this Yank chuckle. Thanks!
  3. MM, thanks for your interest and support of my research effort... and for the information in your last post. Little by little I seem to be learning more. Some of the information I've seen before but it is coming together a bit better now. I am starting a list of the organs that originally used the Schmoele-Mols technology. There are 6 or so that I've found descriptions of on the internet that mention this. All of the organs are European... I haven't yet found mention of these men in the Americal organbuilding literature (but I'll keep looking). The online Biographical Dictionary of Organists lists both William Ford Schmoele and Alexis Mols as organ inventors with an 1881 patent that is "the first patent with the armeture-pallet combination in electro-pneumatic actions". In fact, he patented this type of mechanism in 1873, so I'm curious what exactly this 1881 patent is. Unfortunately this resource does not specfiy the patent number. I will continue to seek information on this 1881 patent, but the US Patent Office doesn't make it easy since the 19th century (and earlier) patents are not searchable by inventors name on the USPTO.gov search engine. What I know for sure is that W.F. Schmoele was living in Antwerp in the 1920s since he made mention of this in a US patent he filed for a motorcycle. I haven't yet found anything about Mols. I searched the US census and can't find anyone with that name in the US. The only Alexis Mols I can find contemporary to that era was a Belgian Leuitenant General. There is an American Alexis Mols who is an organ music composer, but he was born in 1922. If you are interested I'd like to send you a PDF copy of an article I published on mechanical musical instruments at the 1876 Centennial Exhibiiton. The research I am currenlty engaged in is for a follow-up article specifically discussing the technology developments of Schmoele (and now Mols). I'll be on business travel for a few days and will not have access to internet, so please understand if my next posting is somewhat delayed.
  4. Good point! An online source indicates that "Mols" is Alexis Mols, an American, who had an 1881 patent with W. F. Schmoele. That's one step closer to knowing more... Thanks! I look forward to any other insights that you may have.
  5. Hello, I am researching the Schmoele Brothers (William Ford and Henry) who had several 19th century US patents for electrifying organs. My specific interest is in their electro-magentic orchestra that was displayed at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. I have copies of their US patents and several references (from the WWW) of organs that used their technology. I have also done extensive genealogical research on the Schmoele family in the US. William F and Henry seem to have disappeared from the US around the 1890s. I suspect that they may have relocated to Europe and have seen one reference that suggests they may have had a company on Antwerp. Can anyone help steer me toward information about their existance/business activities? I will sincerely appreciate any information! Sincerely, Brian Shaw shaw-brian-e@sbcglobal.net
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