Gerinvex - Discomatic Jukebox

Hi

Please can anyone help with information on Gerinvex of Renens Switzerland, they used to manufacture jukeboxes and OEM jukebox mechanisms, in the 60's and 70's, for export for other companies to use in their own machines.

I have recently been made aware that there was a Gerinvex model jukebox which looked identical to the KB Discomatic and we are wondering exactly what the relationship was between KB and Gerinvex, was there any association with Gerinvex and ITT, and who made what, and how much of the KB Discomatic did KB actually manufacture in the UK.

Thanks

Mike

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Gerinvex was the company of Jean Foufounis, who introduced the Discomatic in 1964. He held over 100 phonograph patents at the time.

Gerinvex, appears to have licensed the design.

I quote from Billboard, Aug. 15, 1964: "Foufounis says he has interested two large British phonograph manufacturers in the system -- British General Electric Company (GEC) and Standard Telegraph Cables (an ITT subsidiary) and they will unveil their versions of Discomatic, using Foufounis' components, at the British Radio Show which opens in London Aug. 28."

Regards
Mark

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Hi Mark

Thanks for the tip off, I have found the copy of Billboard and sent a copy to the guy who is putting together an article on the history of the Discomatic.

Any more infomation would be very welcome, especially if someone who speaks good English and Swiss could be kind enought to contact Gerinvex for us. To find out if they have any old documentation on the Discomatic and documents relating to them and the UK manufacturers GEC and STC would be great to add to the history

thanks

Mike

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