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De Gouden Limonaire 'Utrecht Museum'
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- Built by Limonaire Frères of Paris around 1910.
- If you were an organ builder around 1900, competition was fierce and you had to stay creative if you wanted to stand out! - Putting a unique, recognisable signature on an organ was a challenge. The Limonaire brothers from Paris sought to achieve the ultimate result with this organ. - They wanted it to imitate the human voice with a rank of pipes called the 'vox humana' which was also trialled on many dance organs through the years. -This instrument is part of the collection of the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. |
Model 36 Ruth 'Verdonk Family'
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- Built in 1906 by A Ruth & Sohn in Waldkirch, Germany this is a 78 keyless model 36b fairground concert organ. The model 36 was made in three main styles “A” standard, “B” with glockenspiel and “C” with contrabass (Verdonk’s is a model 36b).
- The organ was first used on the fairs of Germany by a showman from Hamburg before being acquired by a Dutch showman from Roermond in the Netherlands in 1920. - In 1953 is was bought by showman Mr WM Verdonk (the father of the current owner) and used with his “auto scooters” or dodgem track until the mid 1970s – see photos. In 1989 an extensive restoration was carried out and the front was slightly modified and extended widthways to give a more impressive appearance. - It travels widely in the Netherlands where it is a popular instrument and has attended the Waldkirch Organ Festival on several occasions. |
90 Key Street Organ "De Arabier"
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Built by Pierre Verbeeck of Antwerp around 1925 with much work and rebuilding done by Gisbert Perlee of Amsterdam around 1948.
"The Arab' is world-famous! The organ travelled extensively around the globe, was featured in films and is even the only organ to make the Dutch Top 40 with the song 'Holland Disco'. The originally Belgian dance organ was restored by the Perlee firm after the Second World War. It was subsequently leased throughout the Netherlands to great success for many decades up until the turn of the 21st century. Because it is a beautiful example of the Dutch organ tradition and has such a storied history, the organ is included on the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science's list of protected Dutch cultural heritage. -This instrument is part of the collection of the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. |
90 Key Carl Frei "De Pod"
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- Built in 1935 by Carl Frei for the Amsterdam organ renter Willem van Jaaren, who immediately rented it a chap with the nickname "Jan de Pod". Hence the name of the organ. - After the Second World War, it was purchased by the company Perlee, which mainly rented it out in Rotterdam. The front comes from an old Mortier dance organ. - In February 2002, the organ could be heard during the wedding of Prince Willem Alexander and Maxima. A few years ago, the entire collection of Perlee was purchased by the museum Speelklok in Utrecht, which has given it on loan to the Haarlem Organ Museum |
101 Key Mortier 'Utrecht Museum'
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- Built by TH Mortier of Antwerpen around 1927.
- Dance music tends to be subject to the whims of fashion, and dance organs changed as new trends arrived on the scene. One of the companies that was good at responding to the latest developments was Mortier, based in Antwerp. Mortier organs were updated to the latest musical trends by adding new stops and percussion instruments. - The organ façades, too, became increasingly modern. The organs and their dance music became so popular that Mortier ended up expanding to be the largest dance organ manufacturer we know. - This is a highly original instrument with very old paintwork on the façade that shows its traveling life as it was transported from dance hall to dance hall. -This instrument is part of the collection of the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. |
92 Key Decap "De Congo"
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- This Decap was built in the 1940’s as a typical 92 key cafe dance organ. First owner unknown.
- Around 1955 it was modernized by gebroeders Decap Antwerp with a new façade drums and electronic sounds. - It was sold to café Congo in Antwerp and stayed there entertaining the public until the 1970’s. - Kees Adriaanse became the new owner and rented it out to a cafe in Halsteren in the province of north Brabant Netherlands. - In 1984 it was sold to Zwerus de Ruijter in Rijswijk Netherlands who pulled the organ around the streets with a horse. - In 1987 Wies Swachten became the new owner and he removed the electronic organ. He sold it to Daniel de Bie Balen Belgium. - In 2007 became Gerrit Verhagen owner and rebuild it at NBC Tilburg it got a new facade and changed some pipe work. |
68 Key Decap "Lucy"
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- This organ was built about 1946 by Gebroeders Decap in Antwerp, Belgium for use in a café.
- In total 162 organ pipes provide the voices (violin, jazz flute, vibratone, violin celeste,) with accompaniment and bass. - It was imported to the St Albans Organ Museum by Charles Heart. The current owner Keith Pinner then bought the instrument from auction. - The wind supply from an electric blower operates the entire pneumatic mechanism on commands from perforated cardboard music books read by a keyframe. - Lucy has a large library of music books and the addition of a midi system fitted in 2012. |
65 Key Aalster Gavioli
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Built by Gavioli, Paris around 1900 to 1905 as a Dance Organ style instrument.
- Until Anselmo Gavioli patented cardboard book music in 1892, music for barrel organs could only be programmed on a rotating cylinder. - These cylinders were cumbersome and heavy and could not contain a lot of music. His invention therefore heralded a revolution in organ construction: folded sheets of cardboard that could be changed manually enabled much greater variety in the music that could be played. - Anselmo also reaped the rewards of his invention. His factory in Paris built many fairground organs and dance organs - including this one - featuring statues from South Tyrol (in present-day Italy). -This instrument is part of the collection of the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. |
98 Key Marenghi "Grand Organ"
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- It was built 1911 with the works number 2402. The organ was delivered from Marenghi in Paris straight to Somerset to play in a set of Gondolas and later Dodgems. It was removed from the Gondolas to the Golden Dragon Scenic and fitted into the new truck by Orton’s. Two wings were added to fill the truck. It was presented by George DeVey for the first time at Newton Abbot in August 1922.
- It is still owned by the same family today but has been under the custodianship of many individuals and clubs over the years such as the Gladiator Organ Club, the Dorset Steam and Historic Vehicle Club, Steve and Vicky Postlethwaite and latterly Peter Phillips. - In 2017, a replica dummy instrument was built and featured heavily in the plot line for the family film 'Paddington 2'. The real organ travelled up to London's Southbank for the Premier which featured stars like Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters and Hugh Grant. - The instrument is now under the care of Dingles Fairground Heritage Trust and can be seen in their new museum building. |
52 Key Street Organ "Het Blauwtje"
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- This street organ first played on the streets of The Hague, Holland in 1933. It started life as a 49 Key organ built by Marenghi of Paris and had quite an orchestral sound, similar to a small fairground organ. However, throughout its life, it had to keep up with changing tastes to earn its keep.
- Soon after it was built, the invention of the 'Bourdon Celeste pipe rank brought a different sound that the public loved! This led to many street organs being rebuilt like Blauwtje. In 1940, it was sold to Henk Möhlmann - a Dutchman famous for the fleet of organs which he hired out to be played on the streets of Amsterdam. - In the late 1970's, after a hard life of entertaining the public, “Het Blauwtje” needed major restoration. Piet van der Erf commissioned a rebuild by the world-famous Verbeeck firm in Belgium in 1982. - It was purchased by James Dundon of Cornwall in 2012, and the organ has been enhanced with added bass trombones and cello celeste. |
98 Key Sleighbell Marenghi "Amersham"
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- Built by Ch. Marenghi et Cie in Paris in 1910 for Derbyshire showman Harry Hall who used it in his scenic whales switchback ride.
- It was later sold to West-Country showmen Anderton & Rowland who used it in their four-abreast galloping horses roundabout. The ride and organ passed to Sam Smart and finally the Kursaal in Southend. - The then derelict organ was purchased by the Emmett family, who sold it to Ted Reed in 1968. The instrument was rebuilt by Chiappa Ltd, London and redecorated by the late James Tiller of Long Sutton, the work being completed in 1971. (Information and picture from the Amersham Fair Organ Museum) |
89 key "De Grote Gavioli"
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- This is an original 89 Key G4 Scale Gavioli Organ built in Waldkirch in the Black Forrest circa. 1906 for use on the German fairgrounds.
- The organ was supplied new to Dresden Showman Carl Patty and during the 1920’s was purchased by Dutch showman Reinhard Dirks and was taken to Holland and used in his Lunapark attraction. Carl Frei rebuilt and extended the organ creating its unique sound. - In 1963 the organ was purchased by the late Arthur Mason, garage owner, of Burnham Market, Norfolk. This caused somewhat of a furore in Holland where enthusiasts were most upset by the export of what was considered to be one their national treasures, so much so that other organs of national importance were subsequently “listed” by the Dutch Government and their future export prevented. - In July 1996 the organ was purchased by the present owner Nigel Myers of Rufforth, York and underwent a three year rebuild and careful restoration. |
105 Key Carl Frei "De Schuyt"
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- This organ was built for dance hall 'Olympia' in Antwerp. The instrument was fitted with an impressive façade, that looked very much like a Greek temple in Elis, which was built for the celebration of the Olympic Games.
- The organ suffered damage from a fire and was bought by Carl Frei, who rebuilt it in 1931 on his 105 key scale. - In 1957, the organ was acquired by the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht thanks to the financial help of Mr. Schuyt in Singapore. In his honour, the organ was called 'De Schuyt'. - A new front was made for the instrument in 1971 by Feite Posthumus with a full restoration of the instrument in 2002. |
112 Key "De Bocken Mortier"
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- Built for dance hall owner Joseph Breydels in Wetteren. Breydels was also an agent for the Gaudin firm in Belgium.
- He sold the organ in 1924 to Leo Bocken, who ran a dance hall in the Blinkertsestraat in Helmond. When the popularity of dance halls declined in the 1950s, the Bocken family concentrated on traveling fairground rides. The dance hall was then used as a storage room. To preserve the organs for the city of Helmond, the foundation "Het Helmondse Draaiorgel' was set up in 1967. - In 1971 both the 90-key Mortier and the 112-key Gaudin (which had also been used in the dance hall of the Bocken family) were sold to the city of Helmond, under the express condition that the complete collection would always remain in this city. The organ is still part of the organ collection in Helmond. It is now located in the 'Gaviolizaal' in de Torenstraat. |
54 Keyless Dean "Brighton Gallopers"
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- The organ was commissioned by the late Dave Corbin as an 80 key Dean, but after production on the organ began, Dave was concerned about there being no music readily available for it. He instructed Deans to alter plans to the standard 54 keyless scale, but with extra registers and percussion.
- It is now owned by Owen Smith, this organ is in his Golden Gallopers on Brighton Beach outside a themed bar called Carousel's which is also owned by the family. The ride and organ are stored in the bar during the winter months. - This is possibly the hardest working organ in the country playing regularly 12 hours a day, seven days a week from May to September. Originally a book organ, it has since been altered to midi. |
90 Key Street Organ 'De Gouwe'
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- Built by Gavioli as a dance organ style instrument, the organ played in a dance hall in Zaandam where it was maintained by Carl Frei.
- Due to a fire, the organ suffered a lot of smoke and water damage. It was bought by Carl Frei who rebuilt it on his famous 90 key scale. It was the last organ delivered by Frei on this type. - In 1938 it was delivered to Willem van Jaaren, a rotary organ renter in the Vinkenstraat in Amsterdam. He rented the organ in Amsterdam and IJmuiden, among other things. The Gouwe gained great fame when it was rented to the Tolsma family in Leeuwarden by the then owner, the company Perlee from Amsterdam, in the early 1950s. - After the death of Mr. Perlee, the Gold was sold to the company Heineken, who had it on display in "The Heineken Experience" in Amsterdam. Because the organ was in need of a major restoration, Heineken eventually sold the organ to the National Rotary Organ Preservation Fund. It is now the collection of the Haarlem Draaiorgel Museum. |
89 Key Gavioli "Ex-Bailey"
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- Built by Gavioli et Cie in Paris at the turn of the century, and imported by Chiappa Ltd who rebuilt it as an 89 key Violin-Baryton instrument.
- It was used in the three-abreast galloping horses roundabout of H. Jennings, J & H Williams, Sam Williams, Con Studt, S. Manning, J. Connely, and finally Butlins of Bognor Regis. - It was purchased in a derelict condition by the Emmett family who sold it to John H. Bailey of Stratford-upon-Avon who restored the organ and decorative front. - It was purchased by Ted Reed in 1997 and rebuilt by Kevin Meayers, who took the opportunity to return it to a more original condition, with some new pipework supplied by Judith Howard. (Information and picture from the Amersham Fair Organ Museum) |
121 Key "Accordion Castle"
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- Decap Herentals evolving technology has given today's audience a very different style of Mechanical Music.
- Influenced by styling from “café, art-deco organs” from the 1940’s and 1950’s yet totally updated for today. Very large “footprint” with dazzling visuals. integrating multicoloured LED lights animated by the music, plus illuminated pipework and drumsticks showing the notes that play. - Up to five accordions; multiple ranks of pipes; full percussion; sampled pipework sounds for additional simulated experience and... it can even sing! The vocal tracks of many of the songs were recorded by one of the Decap brothers who is a cabaret singer. - All MIDI performance, improved by a small touch screen which allows for easy playlist recall. Integrates a volume slider, controlling not only the integrated sample sounds but certain other effects. - Vast and growing musical library from original Albert Decap 121-key arrangements to other transcriptions and new arrangements. |
61 Key Wilhelm Bruder Söhne
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- This Wilhelm Bruder Söhne was built in Waldkirch around 1915.
- In the early 20th century, everyone would flock to the fair in search of entertainment as soon as it came to town. Fairground organs like these added sparkle to the crowded attractions. It was very important for the organs to be heard over the din of the fair. - Fairground organ repertoire mainly featured marches, waltzes, operas and operettas, distinguishing it from other organ repertoire. We can also tell that this organ is German-made, judging by the keyless reading system and robust action, which was produced exclusively in Germany and was more sustainable. - This impressive instrument is still one of the loudest organs in the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. |
89 Key Gavioli "Ex- Silcock"
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- Built by Gavioli et Cie in Paris c. 1890, and imported to England by Arthur Righini of Manchester who sold it to Edmund Holland in 1906 for use in his four-abreast galloping horses roundabout.
- It later passed to Lancashire showmen Silcock Bros., who had it converted by Wright & Holmes to pinned barrel operation, and used it in their Waltzer ride. - Following the demise of the Wright & Holmes firm, the organ was rebuilt by Chiappa Ltd to 89 key Violin-Baryton book operation c. 1953. After a brief ownership with Screeton Bros. it was purchased by Ted Reed in 1965 when it was again overhauled by Chiappa Ltd and redecorated by the late James Tiller of Long Sutton. - The instrument was rebuilt after a devastating fire at the Museum in 1991 by Kevin Meayers and Judith Howard, with a new top proscenium and drum wings carved to match the original and redecorated by Jimmy Williams, in the style of the 1965 Tiller scheme. - Pictured is the late Ted Reed of Amersham who was renowned for putting Amersham on the map with his world class collection of organs. His work continues under the care of the Amersham Fair Organ Museum trust. (Information and picture from the Amersham Fair Organ Museum) |
65 Key Street Organ 'De Turk'
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- It was built in 1908 by the French firm Limonaire Frères. During a renovation in 1916, this image of the organ disappeared, but the name remained. Just before the war, the Turk is sold to fair operator Vermolen, who used it in his ride.
- After the war, the organ was used there for a short time, after which it was sold to a wood mill in Leiden. Just before it was scrapped it was sold to a well-known Rotterdam restaurateur Jaap Minning. From 1957, the organ was boughtby Mr. J.P. van der Bel from The Hague, who toured the organ in Loosduinen. During that period many records were made of the Turk On December 16, 1991, 'De Turk' the Minister of Welfare, Health and Culture placed it on a list of the Preservation of Cultural Property because of its unique sound. There are just 4 other rotary organs on this list. The Turk was purchased in 2003, by the Foundation for the maintenance of the rotary organ "De Turk 1908" in Deventer, and thus saved it for the city of Deventer in the care of Patrick Versteeg. |
Model 36 Ruth "Van Reecken Family"
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- This Model 36c (78 keyless) Ruth Concert Organ is owned by the Van Reecken Family in the Netherlands.
- Built in 1926 this is one of the last large instruments to be built by the firm of A. Ruth & Sohn in Waldkirch. - It is still housed in the original wooden trailer in which it was supplied to a Swiss showman when new. - It is regular attendee at many European organ events including the Waldkirch organ festival and in 2011 it travelled to the UK for the Oktoberfest event at Woking in Surrey. |
52 Key Street Organ 'Impala'
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- The Impala was built in 1998 by Cas Hendrickx. It was one of the first organs built by him. The organ plays on the well-known 51 test system.
- Since it was built the organ has had multiple owners. In 2018, the organ became the property of Hendrik Kaper from Lelystad. - The Impala is being restored to top condition in stages. This is how the brass ball was completely re-learned, the piping was checked and repaired where needed and in 2021 the organ was expanded with a Flute register on vocals. - Hendrik has also expanded the repertoire quite a bit, so that the organ now has a varied repertoire from marches to sing along and of course the latest hits. |
72 Key Street Organ 'Adriaen'
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- The Adriaen was built in 1978 by Henk van den Heuvel senior, who used remains of a De Vreese dance organ during the construction. It was later expanded by the Belgian company Verbeeck. The organ is named after an old mill from Haarlem, which is painted in the top of the organ.
- Every year the Adriaen stands at the Keukenhof in Lisse, where the organ has been playing its joyful sounds for the entire season since 1990, now for the 33rd year. In addition, the organ has been a regular appearance in the centre of Haarlem for years. - The repertoire consists of standard rotary organ music such as marches and serenades, but the organ also has a large repertoire of international hits such as Queen, Coldplay and the Backstreet Boys. A big part of the new repertoire are arrangements by Sjoerd Caspers. |
105 Key Decap 'Metropool'
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- Built in 1973 as a rental organ. It was deployed as a replacement for a previous Decap organ destroyed in a fire at a dance hall in Belgium. This organ played until 1985 in this establishment until another fire occurred, but this time the organ only suffered smoke damage.
- The organ was put to auction, it was purchased by Ruud Brienen in Holland, who exported it to the UK. It was then sold to Jimmy Graham and Sons (Northern Showmen). After that the organ was transferred to Wilf Husband, subsequently being purchased by Tony Holt of Wakefield. Under Tony’s ownership an overhaul of the Hammond organ, accordions and main case was undertaken by Norman Kendall in 2008. -The organ joined the Rogers Organ Collection in 2017. Since the fire damage no effort had been made to refurbish the organ. The organ has now been fully refurbished and the remaining elements restored to bring the organ back to it’s former glory. |
72 Mortier Street Organ 'Scala'
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- This organ was one of the smaller types of dance organs built by Mortier until 1914, with 72 keys and eight bass notes. It was set up in Café 'Sport', in Zundert, the Netherlands.
- Around the year 1955 the instrument was purchased by Jan Gillet in Rotterdam who rebuilt it to a street organ scale. During this modification the 8 bass and 16 counter melody notes could be retained, but the accompaniments went from 10 to 9 notes and the melody was reduced from 22 to 16 notes. - Fitted with an accordion, a visible drum set and a fantasy façade the organ went to Leiden, where it was named 'Sleutelstad' ('The Key Town'). - Around the year 1983 the organ was restored to a more original condition with original Mortier pipework. - Since June 2015 the Scala is with Robin Hendriks from Nieuwkoop. He plays with it on Saturdays in Apel-doorn and at various events throughout the Netherlands. |
110 Key 'Southsea Fairground Organ'
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- Originally built as a 95 key Dance organ and converted to a standard 98-key scale by Chiappa Ltd.
- Its first known showland owner was William Nichols, who placed it in his ex-James Jennings 3 abreast Gallopers in 1924, replacing an 87 key Gavioli. - In 1958 the Gavioli and Gallopers were given to his daughter Patricia and her husband Wally Shufflebottom as a wedding present. The Gallopers were permanently erected at "Clarence Pier" Southsea, where the Gavioli remained in the ride until 1984 when after falling into quite serious disrepair, it was rebuilt by Andrew Whitehead. - After being purchased by Graham Atkinson in the 90's, the instrument was sent to Belgium, where the Verbeeck firm installed a mostly new concert organ that used some of the original pipework in the scheme. The instrument now plays either 98-key or 110-key books. |
84 Key Mortier 'The Zwarte Madonna'
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- As well as large dance organs, Mortier also built smaller compact organs for cafes with everything contained in one cabinet. These were called orchestrions.
- The Black Madonna is one such instrument built in 1927. Although it was built by Mortier, it sounds very different from the other Mortier organs that surround it in the Haarlem Draaiorgel Museum. - The Black Madonna has 84 keys and 311 pipes, divided over 8 registers. Musically she is very diverse, from heavy classical to light dance numbers. - It can be seen and heard every Sunday in the Haarlem Draaiorgel Museum. |
89 Key Gavioli 'Ex-Day'
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- Built in 1905 by Gavioli & Cie, Paris. Known as the 'ex Day' Gavioli, the instrument was imported by Chiappa Ltd of London shortly after the First World War, and subsequently installed in James Day's 3-abreast Gallopers in 1920.
- This fairground ride continued travelling during the war, after which the Day family acquired a site in Aberavon, South Wales where it was permanently built-up alongside their other attractions. - The fair closed in 1984. The gallopers were sold to Australia, fortuitously without the organ, which had been purchased by an English showman. For 21 years it was under the care of the Dobbs family from Worksop, who have entertained thousands at public events throughout their custodianship. It is now owned by Nick Williams of Ludlow. |
90 Key Street Organ 'De Freie'
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- It was built by Ab Knopper - a master pipe voicer who worked at the Pluer firm. He did it as a tribute to Carl Frei, working in his free time to build it as a project. It was finished in 1995.
- The façade was also carved by Ab from a Feite Posthumus design. Posthumus decorated it and it was one of the last 3 fronts he completed before he died in 1996. - Ab and his crew presented the organ on a old fashioned cart and cranked by hand in the city of Culemborg. - When it became to heavy and big to travel on the streets, he sold it to Joop Budding around 2006. The Meulkens brothers are the current owners. - De Freie means the free man but also of course honour the organ builder Carl Frei. You may notice the the latin words on the lower front of the organ “me fecit” which means “I made it”. |
68 Key Street Organ 'De Jupiter'
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It was built in the early 1900's by the Gavioli firm.
- The organ played in a dance hall until it was rebuilt by the Devreese firm in Antwerp and started serving as a street organ. This makes the Jupiter the oldest street organ in the Netherlands. - Over the years, the organ has been rebuilt several times, the Minning firm named the organ Jupiter. - In 1955 the Jupiter was presented for the first time in Haarlem. It was operated on the street for many years. - When Theo van Zutphen became owner, it was given a permanent place in the Haarlem Draaiorgel museum where it still is today. |
78 Key 36 Ruth
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- This one-of-a kind Ruth style 36-X was a custom order in 1910 by Wilhelm A. Meissner of the States who requested an animated orchestra to outshine his competitor's. Meissner had been known for putting animated mechanical figures on amusement park rides. The result on this organ was lots of animated figures beyond the usual bellringers and bandmasters.
- In the 1940’s, the organ eventually ended up in the hands of William Nunley, responsible for Nunley's Happyland Amusement Park in Long Island, New York. He had the organ converted to play Wurlitzer 165 rolls in 1948 which were plentiful and appropriate for a carousel. It still retained all its original pipework and wind operated action. - The organ played at the park until its closing in the late 70's when it was acquired by organ restorer Gavin McDonough who painstakingly restored the organ to its beautiful original condition. Artist Rosa Patton restored the façade. With the addition of MIDI, the organ is again able to play its complete 78 key scale! It retains the Wurlitzer duplex style 165 roll mechanism, but owner McDonough is increasingly interested in utilizing the full 78-key scale for Ruth-style arrangements. |
"The Double Ruth"
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- Andreas Ruth was the founder of an organ building factory in 1841 that developed the A. Ruth & Sohn brand until the Second World War.
- The Double Ruth was build right after World war 1. A very difficult time for the business as they tried to survive. They designed a special scale to play complex classical pieces like Wagner operas. - Originally finished in 1922, it was build with a facade that looked like a temple. In 1923 it left the factory old to Antoon Benner but without the front as he did not like the facade's style. - There were only two of these 'Double Ruth' instruments ever made. The second one is now in ownership of Ruud Vader in the North of Holland and hge has had made a new temple façade to replicate what it would have looked like. - The first 39 Ruth came in ownership of the Hommerson Brothers mid 30’s for use on the fairs. In april 1957 the museum in Utrecht purchased both Schuyt and the double Ruth. In 1978 the organ was restored by J.Brink. - The two 39 Ruth organs have very complex playing systems and are totally unique in the mechanical music world. |
90 Key Carl Anton Pluer 'Rosita'
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- Built by Anton Pluer in 1973 using parts of an old Decap dance organ from Antwerp.
- Front is designed also out of parts of the old Decap organ by the artist Feite Posthumus. In the summer of 1974 it had its premiere on the streets of Bussum with Peter Pluer. - It quickly became a famous organ, featuring in the short movie “organs on wheels“ which you can find on YouTube. - It has spent many years on the streets of Holland. In 1975 John Wempe hired it to play in Santpoort, and in 1979 it played on the streets of Amsterdam. - In 1981 it had a new quint bass and new trombones installed and then in 1984 Coen Alta rented it and put it on display in the Haarleem Draaiorgel Museum. It played every Sunday for the visitors. - When Coen passed away the organ was sold to the UK and is now in the Scarborough Fair collection with Graham Atkinson. |
98 Key Sleighbell Marenghi (Ex-Broad)
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- Built in 1906, this organ spent its early years and is best known for being part of Henry Jenning’s “Scenic Whale” attraction. When Jennings took delivery of that new ride in 1922, he needed an organ, and got it from Chiappas who imported it from Belgium. While there, it was known as the “Scenic Ideal Orchestra.” It operated there until about 1937 when it went into storage, - Later, it operated briefly at Little Hampton Amusement Park, then to Bill Jonas who traded it to Bernard Broad for his work in helping to save the ex-Grey Family Gavioli. - Mr Broad had it for decades, and displayed it quite extensively, causing it to be referred to as the “Broad Marenghi”. - Still with the family, the organ received a complete restoration by Kevin Meayers in the early 2000s and in 2021 was purchaced by the Sleeman family of Cornwall. |
92 Key Dance Organ 'De Westfries'
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- This 92 key organ was made in 1986/1987 by Johnny Verbeeck for Cor Huijsman. - It was built as a replica to the Mon Reve Mortier. Cor died unfortunately before it was finished. His wife Tiny presented the organ on the streets in Enkhuizen 30 July 1987 in tribute to him. - In 2001 Jan van Vliet and his Brother Gé in Leiden became the proud owners. - Together with Johnny Verbeeck they restored the organ and the artist the late Leny Nooijen made new portraits on the façade. It has 470 pipes. - Many new arrangements have recently been supplied by arrangers Sjoerd Caspers and Ash Lombers. |
91 Key Mortier Dance Organ 'Neptunus'
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- Built by Mortier’s of Antwerp in around 1912, Neptunus was built for the Black Cat dance hall, in the centre of Antwerp’s red-light district.
- The name Neptunus came from the sculpture of the Roman God of The Sea which featured in the centre of the original façade of the organ. - In 1926, the organ was moved to the “Koningshof” dance hall in the Van Dijkstraat at Dendermonde, Belgium. Neptunus remained there until at least the early 1950’s before being sold between 1963 and 1967 to Jean Staelens in Belgium. Jean installed the organ in his villa and took the Neptunus and two large female figures off the front and used them as pond decorations in his garden. This would be the last time the front remained in its entirety. - In the early 1970’s Neptunus made its way to the UK and was owned by A.D. Gardiner – at this point Neptunus had no remaining parts of her original front but had a small makeshift front made up from parts of the Mortier-Decap organ “The Flamingo” and beared the name Gavioli and not Mortier. Later, Neptunus was sold to W.G. Hawkins before being sold to Pete Watts of Chipping Norton. Pete was a very eccentric character and devised a nautical themed front with fairground carver, Woody White. Woody constructed and painted a very bright and colourful front with animated fish, crabs and two mermaids, as well as a large static King Neptune in the centre. |
93 Keyless “The Andreas Ruth”
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- This organ was built in Waldkirch – a small town in the Black Forest region of Germany renowned for being home to many fine organ builders.
- The original instrument was a barrel organ of about 90 keys built around 1870 or so. Its early history is unknown but likely used on a German fairground. - The organ returned to the Ruth factory in the 1920’s to be converted from barrel operation to the book playing system. Unusually, the music travels from right to left through the keyframe, as opposed to the more typical left to right. - At the same time, the violin section was enlarged to bring it up to Model 37, 92 keyless specifications. However, this later increased to 93 keyless with the addition of the glockenspiel. - Apart from the change from barrel to book and from lever to pneumatic systems, the organ remains tonally as it did when it was built. - The organ arrived in England in 1962 where it was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Hancock of St. Austell in Cornwall. - In 1976, the organ was sold to Margaret Cook and her partner Jim Hutchins. - At this point, the plain and wood-worm riddled front that came with the organ was redesigned. Much of the original carvings were saved and Mike Hart of Wimborne designed and built the new front. Ensuring the instrument went to a good home before she passed away, Margaret sold the organ in January 2012 to Nigel Myers of Yorkshire who continues to tour it in Margaret's memory. |
The Thursford Carl Frei
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- The original instrument which forms the foundation of the Thursford Carl Frei was a 101 Key Mortier built in 1928, carrying works no. 1024 – this works number can still be seen on the main chest.
- No early history is known of the organ in its original form however, it was discovered by Carl Frei in 1963 in the shed of a German showman near Hamburg. Alongside two other instruments, the organ was in bad condition. - Carl Frei obtained the remains of the instrument and upon the instruction of the late George Cushing of Thursford, the remains were built into a concert organ on Frei’s own 112 keyless scale. - During this rebuild, Carl Frei fitted a brand new façade and figures. - In 1966, the instrument arrived at the world famous Thursford steam collection in Norfolk, where she still remains today. - Despite being in the museum since becoming an exhibit there, the organ did appear outdoors in its early days at the Bysteam At Thursford event in 1967. - The organ boasts over 500 pipes and is considered by many to be “The Sound of Thursford”. |
The Lincoln Park Wurlitzer
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- The 69-key Wurlitzer style 165 band organ was the largest generally available Wurlitzer band organ. The larger, style 180 was made on special order, and three of the five style 180’s manufactured survive.
- Wurlitzer made 25 style 165 band organs from 1917 until 1939. 11 of those survive. Of the others, we can document three lost in fires, while the fate of the others is unknown. - Wurlitzer style 165 band organ #3629 was manufactured in 1924 for the four-abreast Spillman carousel at Lincoln Park, just east of Los Angeles, CA. The entire operation was lovingly owned and maintained by the Davis family and Herbert Vincent who maintained the organ at that location for nearly 50 years. In 1972, the organ had fortunately been removed from the carousel for maintenance when arsonists torched the carousel and the secondary Artizan band organ. - The organ then went to Don Rand and Ed Openshaw, and played briefly at the Griffith Park Spillman carousel, also near Los Angeles, before residing in Don and Ed’s private collection. In 2017, the organ went to another private collection of Mechanical Music Radio presenter Glenn Thomas, it was again restored, and happily resides with much of its original signage from the parks and the organ, and with an original Spillman giraffe that survived the fire. |
98 Key Limonaire 'Baldry Family'
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- This powerful instrument started life as a much smaller Limonaire pin barrel organ built in 1888. Its early history is very sketchy and most is unknown but it was most certainly owned at one time by the Harniess family, a showland family from Yorkshire who used it in the centre of their Strutting Cockerel ride until the early 1930’s. At some stage after, it ended up in the Wright & Holmes organ works in Manchester where it was likely dismantled and harvested of parts to maintain other instruments.
- In the early 1950’s, organ enthusiast Fred Gregory of Derbyshire bought what was left of the organ along with other organ parts, sourced from various places. - Having gathered all the relevant parts, Fred constructed a free standing, roll playing instrument in his house. This would be the foundation of the organ as it stands today. Following Fred’s death, the organ first passed through the hands of Roy Pratt, then on to model organ builder Peter Clifton before entering the organ works of Andrew Pilmer in Yorkshire in the late 1980’s. - The current owners, Alan & Sandra Baldry bought the organ parts and had them rebuilt into a book operated organ playing on the 98 Key VB scale. - Russell Wattam was in charge of this rebuild and produced the stunning instrument you hear today. |
101 Key Mortier “De Kluisberg
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- Built in 1927, the organ was new to an organ renter in Koolskamp (Bruges). From 1948-1950 De Kluisberg was owned by Jozef (Sjef) Van den Eede in Wolvertem. In 1950 it went to Oscar Grymonprez who completely repaired the organ. In 1952, it was rented to a tourist attraction on the Kluisberg, on a hill near Ronse in Belgium.
It was here at Kluisberg that the organ got its name. Much like dance organs typically gained their names from the cafes or dance halls they once performed in. - In 1956, the organ was bought by Gijsbert Perlee in Amsterdam and for a temporary period of time appeared in public with the ‘G. Perlee’ on the front. In 1962, a British man named David Barlow approached Gijsbert to buy an organ – David had the intentions of buying De Arabier originally, but after much negotiation, Gijsbert sold him De Kluisberg and she arrived in the UK on 17th April 1962. David’s love for the bourdon register saw Gijsbert make a rank of bourdons for De Kluisberg and added them on before sending the organ to the UK. The bourdon rank is not original to the organ but has only been added as an extra register thus, nothing has been taken away from the originality of the organ and so it remains as she did when she left Mortier’s works. - In 1967, David passed away and the organ went to Roger Burville who had gotten to know David through those early recital days at the Wingham Works. For 40 years Roger and his family travelled the organ extensively around Britain and collected thousands of pounds for charity along the way. After 40 years of ownership, Roger parted with De Kluisberg in 2007 and the organ went to Stotfold to join the Saunders Family ever growing collection of traction engines and mechanical organs. |
115 Key 'Verbeeck Centenary Organ'
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- Built in 1984 by Johnny Verbeeck in Antwerp, Belgium having been commissioned by Tom & Susan Varley of Gisburn in Lancashire. The reason for the name “The Centenary Organ” is because the Verbeeck organ building firm were 100 years in business the same year. The organ made its debut at the Great Dorset Steam Fair at Stourpaine Bushes in 1984, where it appeared with its original front incomplete and not entirely decorated.
- Tom & Susan travelled the instrument extensively, even across the continent to Holland, whilst it was in their 14 year ownership. The organ was sold in 1998 to its present owners, the Searle family of Horsham. Upon purchasing the organ, Jim & Pat Searle sent it back to Johnny’s workshop to have brass trumpets and brass piccolos added – this metal pipework was intended to be in the organ when it was originally built, but it never materialised. - Over the winter of 2006/2007 the organ was overhauled by Johnny Verbeeck, a new front was made and life-sized figures were added. She was also placed in a brand new, purpose built trailer. The organs deposition is vast, classing it as a fully chromatic concert organ and boasts 1,030 pipes. The organs repertoire continues to grow with over 400 books in the library ranging from the heaviest of classical music, right up to the latest chart hits. The Searle family haul the organ using their 1971 Scania 110 Super which has been in the family since new. |
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