Gem roller organs were made by the Autophone Co. of Ithaca, NY from the mid-1800s to the 1900s. This is a very early model; later ones have an enclosed bellows. It is also known as a cob organ because the music is provided on a  cob-sized wooden cylinder with inserted steel pins. As the cylinder rotates, the pins press the valve covers to open them.

One of the least expensive organettes, it was advertised in the Sears catalog for $3.25. It has 20 notes.

(photo provided by Harold Draper of Roller Organ Restorations)

The Manopan was made by Berliner Musikinstrumenten (Charles F Pietschmann & Sohne) in Berlin, Germany circa 1887. This model has 24 notes. It plays both continuous loop and cardboard book music. (photo provided by Harold Draper of Roller Organ Restorations)

The Organina was one of dozens of organette brands made by the Massachusetts Organ Company. This is the Mignonette model, which has 16 notes.

Ads for the Organina stressed the fact that the paper roll was not the valve for the reeds. Instead, the paper holes triggered mechanical tracker arms that operated the valves. It’s also one of the few organettes that offered external roll spools.

(photo provided by Harold Draper of Roller Organ Restorations)

Phoenix organettes were made by Schmidt & Co., Phonix Musikwerke of Leipzig, Germany from 1870 – 1905. This 34B model has 24 notes. The media is a zinc ring-shaped disc. There were different diameter discs made to accommodate different length tunes.

(photo provided by Harold Draper of Roller Organ Restorations)

The Herophon was manufactured by Euphonika of Leipzig, Germany circa 1905. This model has 24 notes. It’s unusual operation rotates the entire player mechanism while the punched cardboard disc remains  stationary, This design was meant to get around a patent held by competitor Ariston – a strategy that didn’t hold up in court. (photo provided by Harold Draper of Roller Organ Restorations)