MULTIPLICITY AMONG PECULIAR-A STARS I - THE AP STARS HD-8441 AND HD-137909, AND THE AM STARS HD-43478 AND HD-96391

We present the first results of a radial-velocity survey of cool Ap an d Am stars. HD 8441 is not only a double system with P = 106.357 days, but is a triple one, the third companion having an orbital period lar ger than 5000 days. Improved orbital elements are given for the classi cal Ap star HD 137909 = beta CrB by combining our radial velocities wi th published ones. We yield new orbital elements of the two Am, SB2 bi naries HD 43478 and HD 96391. Good estimates of the individual masses of the components of HD 43478 can be given thanks to the eclipses of t his system, for which an approximate photometric solution is also prop osed.