This barrel organ traveled on the ship 'Belgica' during the Belgian polar expedition 1897-1899.
This is an early example of a small barrel organ in which the music is transmitted via perforated cardboard. This system became popular from 1887 onwards and was patented in Paris by Gavioli. This organ does not work with organ pipes, but the sound is produced by blowing metal reeds.
The Thibouville-Lamy company that built this organ employed 420 people in those years, most of them in Mirecourt in the Vosges. At most the final finishing and sales took place in Paris.
