my gdsf 08 snaps

my gdsf 08 snaps
hi, here are some of my pics of this years fantastic 40th anniversary show, the pictures include Barnaby Newtons fabulous Marenghi replica organ.

Wow you have some of the best pictures so far. I assume that is a Allen theater organ in the trailer? Just wow, many things to celebrate: The 150th birth of Charels Marenghi The 50th anniversery of F.O.P.S The 40th anniversery of the G.D.S.F. It was this very rally that was the ultimante inspiration for the American Band Organ rally thank you british people. Which of thease organs was at every G.D.S.F since the beggining(or pretty close)? I hope my chapter of A.M.I.C.A(Southern California) will have more band organ rallys in the future. As of now I can only count just 2 this year(and the other one is way up state so I would not even dream of going). -Justin

Justin, the fundamental problem with band organ rallies in the US will always be that owners of the grandest instruments, of the kind you see at British rallies, almost never dare take them outdoors nor ever will they. Furthermore, unlike the UK, in the US there is no preservation tradition of doing so either. I think most large instruments during their original US working lives were static installations in permanent fairgrounds as opposed to the predominant travelling fairs of the UK and Europe. Distance betwen towns probably played a large historical factor here. The mind-set is also different. In the US the mindset is that of "collector" : it is what part of the acronym AMICA stands for and clearly appears to be the organizational culture behind MBSI also. In the UK and Europe the parallel societies and mindsets of the members are in the main different. I am not saying everyone in the US is a hell-bent acquisitive collector or that in the UK we have no-one like that - we do, but there are differences. The newer generation of mechancial music enthusiasts seem to be changing the formula in the US gradually however so keep up the good work! But, until and unless US collectors fancy putting into trailers and touring out their large instruments in the US then UK-type rallies will always elude the States. Considering the distances, different climatic conditions and lack of established rallies I think any real change soon is unlikely. Oh well, the £ fell back to £1.80 to the $ today so start saving up and come to the UK for the rally season next year.... regards Adam

Wow you have some of the best pictures so far. I assume that is a Allen theater organ in the trailer? Just wow, many things to celebrate: The 150th birth of Charels Marenghi The 50th anniversery of F.O.P.S The 40th anniversery of the G.D.S.F. It was this very rally that was the ultimante inspiration for the American Band Organ rally thank you british people. Which of thease organs was at every G.D.S.F since the beggining(or pretty close)? I hope my chapter of A.M.I.C.A(Southern California) will have more band organ rallys in the future. As of now I can only count just 2 this year(and the other one is way up state so I would not even dream of going). -Justin Hi Justin, that is an Allen digital in the trailer, as part of Graham Atkinsons "Grand Electric Palace Of Variety". it sounded great when i heard it, but it was being played by a floppy disc player system at the time. it was also being used to accompany performances on the show front. there were a couple of organs that were at the first show 40 years ago, one is Mr Atkinsons 89 key Limonaire, the other is a 46-keyless Gavioli-Chiappa organ now owned by Len Crane. i think this organ has been to pretty much every show.

Thanks for your photos, Ian. It proves that one daday at the GDSF (which is all I could spare) is not enough. Some of those organs I didn't even see. The highlight for me was turning 'de Carillon' with the book 'Angel from Arnhem'.

Justin, . The newer generation of mechancial music enthusiasts seem to be changing the formula in the US gradually however so keep up the good work! But, until and unless US collectors fancy putting into trailers and touring out their large instruments in the US then UK-type rallies will always elude the States. Considering the distances, different climatic conditions and lack of established rallies I think any real change soon is unlikely. regards Adam Most of the "grand instruments" that you speak of are rapidly leaving the US, including ones that have spent their entire existence here. A lot of the promenant collectors here have reached an age were it is prudent to liquidate their inventory to satisfy heirs that have no interest in the instruments. With the Euro strong a lot of the expatriated instruments that came over here in the 1960's and 70's are going back to where they came from. Yes there are no "established" rally sites here, a lot of that has had to do with land values, and the general public in general. Untill recently, a plot of land that could handle a good size rally probably wouldn't be there the following year, it would be a new subdivision. Fairgrounds have been used, but usually the rally has to be held in conjunction with another event there. City parks have been used with mixed results depending upon how close it is to residents. (One rally was stopped by judge because it was interfering with his court proceedings.) We've had some that set up along city streets, and depending upon the location went very well, or the merchants did nothing but complain. NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard) is rampant in the US , as the public draws lines around "their space". A loud brash reminder of the past is often not appreciated by the iPod generation. As far as "putting them into trailers" what the problem with that is that there is very few insurance underwriters here who write a policy for an organ in a permanent collection, let alone one that is trailer mounted. The ones that do very often put specific restrictions as to how often you can take it out, and how far away from it's home location you can take it. The amusement underwriters will do that, but the rates are astronomical, as they don't differentiate between a business and a hobby. A lot of organs have come off the road in the last few years because of that , rising state fees on the trailers, and recently the escalating fuel prices. The average organ owner here is not a wealthy person. He is what we called "middle class". They make a comfortable livng, nothing exhorbitant. They are interested in band (fair) organs, instead of say a boat, or an RV. He (she)owns one instrument (maybe two) which usually are typical examples of what was used during the their heyday(Wurlitzer's, North Tonawanda's, Artizan's, smaller Ruth's Bruder's, Gavioli's etc.) They are glad to share as often as they can , or afford , with the public.

Well not to mention some powerful people in our hobby are so "inside and personal" about our hobby they actually allow the abuse of band organ's and mechanical music in general. Rather than preventing any further perversion of these wonderful instruments(like taking up money collections and volunteering to work on the instruments).For example the Wurlitzer 157 band organ on the roof of the carousel in knotts berry farm here in California, they(the owners) just leave it up there without a rain cover or a sun unbrella. I refer to most of the instruments in the public eye when I speak of the abuse. About the "Not In my back yard" concept, this is very true. The Southern California Chapter of A.M.I.C.A once had a big band organ rally at Descenso Gardens in La Canada California(next Pasadena Callifornia). We drew literally thousands each year, and we even had to stay longer beacuse of the great crowds(thankfully I was lucky enough to attend the last one). Then a show host Huell Howser came along and did a show on the rally bringing thousands more(he Aired a rerun every year of the weekend of the rally, with some minor radio coverage). Then the managment changed and they told us "No More". Not beacuse of the music but beacuse all the Damage that was done to the plants beacuse of all the people. Still our rally at Desconso Gardens was so popular amoungst the entire state that people still call us and Desconso Gardens when the rally will be this year and we have been gone for 4 years. Cordially: -Justin Senneff

Bruce R. Pier: You are also correct on the soring insurance rates for mechanical music and trailers. As you mentioned on another subject, the Theater organ voiced band organ "the Spirit of San Diego" had to close down beacuse of the same reason. To all those reading and wondering, I saw that organ in person at the Desconso Rally I mentioned in my other comment here. Gas prices also are a bother to us hobbyist's who like to travel with organs etc. Cordially: -Justin Senneff

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