Organ Update 12
UPDATE Compiled by Boz Oram
boz@historyinharmony.com
www.historyinharmony.com
Welcome to you all, including the latest people to join the Update circular. As I have said in earlier updates, I am truly amazed at the response and pleasant feedback that seems to be coming my way. Thank you also for your thoughts and ideas. I am trying to make sure that you, the recipients get a regular email without too much reading to get through in each edition. I have been asked why I don’t use photographs, so apologies for the original update members by repeating this, but I don’t want you having to download big files and annoy you – simple as that. Also, I use the bcc file dispenser so that the chance of spam is removed from this point and can't be picked up at your end.
I have been getting a few sayings sent to me which are, (unusually for a change!) able to be repeated! – Here’s one to be going on with “Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you; not because they are nice, but because you are”.
As ever, should you wish to not be included on this update, then please let me know at boz.oram@andover52.fsnet.co.uk and I’ll remove you forthwith. Conversely, if you know of any other people who would benefit or enjoy this email, then please get them to contact me at the same address.
My apologies as well for those people who want to be on the update, but aren’t yet – this is because I only have two hands and a couple of fingers! We have, in the south finally got a small smattering of snow, and the whole country has come to a grinding halt! Well not strictly true, but there are “sub-zero warnings” on the radio at regular intervals making it as though there is a major alert. A few schools have been closed, much to the joy of the inmates due to the snow, and another school couldn’t let the kids out to play in the snow until the teachers had written out a risk assessment form beforehand. Maybe a daily risk assessment ought to be written before getting out of bed – in fact why get out of bed!
Contents
News from SS Shieldhall
Venues for the Steam Apprentice Club
Departures from History in Harmony
Thames Valley Traction Engine Club
Venues UK
Events in UK plus USA
Reply Derek Legg, Jeffery Shackell
Road Regulations
Aire Valley Vintage Club__________________
From Graham Mackenzie of the Steamship SS Shieldhall (UK)
We will be in Glasgow from the 14th to 28/29th July and will run excursions. At the moment we are trying to understand the requirements of our sponsors, regarding block bookings and we will then issue a programme asap. You will be amongst the first to find out. (thanks for that Graham)
Graham Managing Director, Solent Steam Packet (Services) Ltd
Mobile Phone 07751 603 190
Visit our website at www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk
As a side issue to this, we will be organising a tour from the South of England to this festival. For further details, please contact tours@historyinharmony.com
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From John Durling, Chairman of the Steam Apprentice Club (UK)
I have just received the details from the Steam Apprentice Club for their year’s activity at learning on how to become young and competent steam engine drivers and maybe engineers. The SAC is I believe, the only society that is entirely devoted to helping generate the future steam preservationists in the world (I would like to be proved wrong here).
List of Venues
Fengate Farm, Weeting, Suffolk 16th 17th April 2005 There is a collection of 4-5 road steam engines with others on site for the week-end. Camping and caravanning space is available.
Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. The leader here is Paul Worby, who has been a staunch provider of this type of event. The 23rd 24th April at Old Warden is also home to the Shuttleworth Collection and the Old Warden Rally, a fortnight after the Great Dorset Steam Fair (in my mind, one of the best all round shows anywhere) Please apply to Paul as the Bedford Steam Engine Society is providing a complete week-end of activities. Camping and caravanning space is available.
Bursledon Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Swanwick, Southampton. 24th April 2005. The old Brickworks is used as a museum and steam centre. Several engines are based here and locally to the museum. Leader here is Graham Chaffer. Camping and caravanning space is available.
Dingles Steam Village, Lifton, Devon on the14th May. This is a very active Steam Museum with several resident steam engines as well as a fully functioning workshop. Richard Sandercock, the leader for the day is also one of the family members of Dingles, the famous road contracting company.
Other venues available are Henstridge Airfield 13th 14th August, Holly Bank, Tybroughton in Shropshire on the 17th September and Brantham Hall Colchester in October. Not forgetting the Great Dorset Steam Fair who also allow the Steam Apprentices to use the “Play Pen” at special times.
Further details about the steam apprentice club and the special driving days are available from the Chairman John Durling whose email is john.r.durling@uk.transport.bombardier.com Youngsters will receive a ¼ly magazine, plus the most amazing encouragement from all concerned. You don’t have to have any association with steam either and the ages for the apprentices range from little ones right up to very tall ones of both sexes.__________________________
From History in Harmony
The departure list is now available for 2005. Further details can be found on our website www.historyinharmony.com or you can just email one of us at tours@historyinharmony.com
28th April Belgian Steam Supreme in conjunction with Old Glory Magazine – a five day break visiting the Maldegem Steam Museum, Bakkersmolen Windmill, brewery plus much more. (6 days)
The Waldkirch Mechanical Organ Festival. Three different types of tour on offer here: The first from 15th June is the long tour and organ intensive visiting many different collections throughout Europe, including Holland, Germany, Switzerland and France. It uses the Waldkirch Festival as the central feature. (9 days)
Alternative Waldkirch Festival. The Second from 16th June is the rather laid-back approach for those who just wish to go to the festival, but see different scenic sights other than the music festival itself such as the Flower Island on Lake Constance, mountain railways (Air transport out and back) (6 days) and finally the festival’s short tour 17th June for those people who wish to just visit the festival itself. Journeying out by rail and back again- staying locally. (4 days)
3 July Festival of the Sea is heralded as one of the greatest sea-going events in Europe. Visit the festival and return back on the SS Shieldhall to Southampton. (2 days)
24th July. No sooner berthed back in Southampton, but now making its way up to the Shieldhall’s birthplace in Glasgow, Scotland for its anniversary year. Exact itinerary to be confirmed. (5 days transport up by air)
27th August. Crich Tramway Museum Extravaganza and is centred around the award winning museum’s special day plus excursions and shows over the bank holiday weekend. (4 days)
2nd September Great Dorset Steam Fair is considered to be the finest of its type in the world and is certainly the largest, covering over 500 acres and has one of the largest gatherings of heavy horses around, vintage tractors from Europe and USA, plus plenty of mechanical organs and countless steam engines and an enormous market place where you ought to be able to find that elusive part. (4 days)
11 September Romania, including Sinia, Peles Castle, a twinning with organisers and like-minded people at the Iasi Music Festival, the remarkable Bucovenia painted monasteries and plenty more. The most amazing country that is changing fast – don’t miss this one. (10 days)
13th October. Preservation in Slovakia, flying to Vienna, Schechat Museum, Erdberg, Nitra, Bratislava steam, vintage journeys, castles and more besides
29th October. We have been asked to organise a tour to the Model Rail Exhibition in Arnhem. If you are interested, let us know.
Mechanical Organs in November going to some of Holland’s excellent selection of instruments (4 days)
Christmas Markets. Seasonal festivities, decorations and excitement with wonderful moments to finalise those presents and enjoy something unusual at the same time.
German Museums January 2006. Based around the excellent Sinsheim Model Engineering Exhibition, we return back and at the same time visit some of Europe’s most lavish collections.
The list is continually changing and the best way to find out what is going on in the travel scene is to use the website www.historyinharmony.com All prices are quoted per person on as half-board basis using quality accommodation and flights and ground transport are used where appropriate. Email direct: tours@historyinharmony.com _______________________
From the chairman’s wife, Carole Davis, Thames Valley Traction Engine Club (UK)
Dear Boz
Looks as though Thunderbirds are now go! Hope this helps.
Carole
The TVTEC website is now back up and running at www.tvtec.info.
Further additions, updates and improvements to appear in due course. Any suggestions gratefully received. Spread the word to as many as possible!
Thanks, Ben (who is the website master)
Any information to this society, please check out the website. PS that was 2 emails together so it reads a bit strangely, but I think you’ll get the meaning.
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From Michael Clark in Leeds UK
Thanks for update #11
In response to your question about becoming an Old Sage, may I suggest you and your correspondents look out for the Steam Heritage Guide, published annually in spring time and usually available from larger branches of WH Smith, or direct from the publishers TEE Publishing, The Fosse, Fosse Way, Leamington Spa, CV31 XN. Website www.teepublishing.co.uk . This publication has been going for decades and is very comprehensive (although it, like all information sources, relies on updates and corrections from the organisers). It contains details of Railways, National Associations, Publications & Periodical, Museums - Rail and Steam Centres & Sites, Canal, Ship, Aircraft and Military Vehicle Museums, Smaller Gauge and Miniature Railways. All indexed both A-Z and Geographically. There is also a calendar list of events covering all the above locations.
I doubt if any publication can cover all the diverse interests of the preservation scene, but I don't know of any other publication, which has such a wide range of information relatively reliable and for the bargain price of £4.70 incl. Postage.
Hope this cuts out all the easy questions and only leaves you having to research the difficult ones. (*)
Best Wishes,
Michael Clark,
Leeds
(*) Thanks for that one Michael!
I asked for events around the world, and received the reply from Gary Hall who has his own site that puts a few British shows on the map.
Details of events in Northern England - www.fair-organ.com
Gary
From Brian Steptoe (UK)
Boz,
Just to suggest you might add the US National Carousel Association annual convention to your list of events. It is open to all and you do not have to be a member.
23-28 August 2005, Pittsburgh, USA. Tours to historic vintage US carousels in the area. See the excellent nca website www.nca-usa.org for details.
There is also a technical event every year, about restoration etc, but this may well have already taken place for 2005, as it is on 4-6th March at Washington DC. (am hoping to try and get it in beforehand)
Yours, Brian
Words taken from the National Carousel Association’s website www.nca-usa.org SAVE OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES. Of the 3,000 to 4,000 wooden carousels carved in America between 1885 and 1930, fewer than 150 still operate today. Whether they are small, two-row portable track machines or elaborate, four-row Dentzel menageries, the National Carousel Association is dedicated to preserving the few wooden carousels that have survived. Grateful thanks to Brian for passing this on to us all. More sites like this please!
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From Ron Bopp, editor and publisher of the Carousel Organ Association of America. (COAA) website www.carouselorganassociation.org which lists the latest information about organ rallies, membership and items for sale based in the USA and Richard Backus editor of Steam Traction USA www.steamtraction.com These events are in the USA
May 6-8th Pawnee Oklahoma Steam and Gas engine show with this years features being Corlis, Allis Chalmers and featured gas engine also being Allis. www.OklahomaThreshers.org
May 28th –30th (sat- mon) COAA rally #1 at Lake Winnepesqaukah (*) Amusement Park, Chattanooga, TN with the contact being Charles Parker (404-892-0065)
(*) This must be on of the few words in the English Dictionary that uses a letter other than a “u” after the Q.
July 7th-9th (thurs-sat) Mid-Am Music Box Society International (MBSI) at Sandusky, OH and the contact being Marge Waters (330-334-1344).
COAA Rally #2 July 15th –17th (fri-sun) Midway Park, Jamestown, NY. Contact Dan Wilke (716-825-7266)
COAA Rally #3 August 26th 28th (fri-sun) at St Joseph. MI. Contact James Partrick (269-429-1306)
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion Rollag Minn September 2-5th Special feature Otto Gas Engines. Info www.rolag.com
COAA rally #4 September 9th-11th (fri-sun) at Findlay OH with the contact being Terry Haughawout (419-454-3617)
Finally I notice that the Farm Collector Show Directory lists some 1400 shows, but no email or website. Anyone know this? I’m also guessing that this is also confined to the US.
More details as and when they become available……..
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Hi Boz,
Many thanks for the mention in your latest update. Unfortunately there has been a slight misunderstanding as I was enquiring about preparation of the rivet heads rather than the painting of them. It is rather difficult to get round the heads with wet and dry etc without rubbing all the paint off, mind you this could be the best way forward on such a project. Over to you and you have my admiration for taking on this update project, just make sure it doesn't take priority over History In Harmony.
Kind regards, Derek Legg.
Thanks for that and your words of encouragement Derek………….. Well over to all of you. Do you have any ideas on this situation apart from using an angle grinder to remove the heads entirely?! (which of course defeats the point of asking how to get around rivets in the first place)
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From Jeffery Shackell in Oxfordshire UK
Hi Boz
Enjoyed the latest update. Very glad the Gray family Gavioli was not involved in the fire; I feel sorry for the showland family though who clearly have lost much through this. Not on Broadband? Is that because you can't get it down there? When you can it is a must to go onto Broadband - all so much quicker. (*)
(*) Funnily enough, yesterday, the office went onto broadband! Yes finally the wilds of Wiltshire are getting into the 21st century and the old steam powered lines have been consigned to the bin and History in Harmony can now book all of your travel requirements on line when you phone up!
You’d have thought that we had gone back to the 70’s and just discovered the computer for the first time, looking at massive great files downloading in just an instant! Fortunately, I am still on carrier pigeon email, so I won’t get carried away with passing down photographs and other heavy files that other people can’t download for hours – those of you in more advanced countries than the UK must be scratching your heads in disbelief at to how far behind we are with the rest of the world!
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From Mark Jefford up there in the wind driven snows of Lincolnshire
Boz. This may be a little after the event but still may help people getting ready for this year's rally season. I picked up on these regulations at a Motorway Service Station this weekend and thought they may affect people who have a lorry (truck) first registered on or after 1 January 2001.
The website I've found that explains the situation is www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/newsevents/newreleases/21-12-04newrequirementsforroadspeedlimiters.htm (how can you tell this is a Government driven website!)
Hope this is of use. Regards Mark
Mark then further qualified the information in a later email:
No one with a modern lorry ie newer than 2001 used internationally at present, is allowed to go so fast that the load (or organ in my case) jiggles out of / into tune (or off the load loader) at each pothole, rut, poor surface, sleeping policeman, or speed reducing chicane encountered! Some people may need to have their modern transport retrofitted with speed limiters at their own expense. I guess your Ford Thames Trader will be OK though!
I guess that you’re right Mark, especially as its top speed is 40mph and that’s with Hurricane Charlie right up its behind…….
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From Jim Pickles, Secretary of the Aire Valley Vintage Machinery Club
Hi Boz,
Thanks for putting the Aire Valley Vintage Machinery Club on your e-mail list.
I have quite a liking for street/fairground/dancehall organs and usually manage to book one for most of the Club's events (much to the chagrin of some!).
The Club helps out at Denholme Children's Gala, and for that I usually try to book as many organs etc as I can manage. Last year looked like being a bumper year with three organs and a tingalary, unfortunately, the weather was terrible and the event only just kept going. This year Denholme Children's Gala will be held on Saturday 2nd July ... we are hoping for a better day!
Regards,
Jim.
Thanks for that Jim, but what on earth is a tingalary? (answers on a postcard - or maybe email is better)
That’s it so far – you can supply me with information for discussion or news in the limelight – if you want to be anonymous, that’s fine - all subjects are welcome to be discussed. If you feel that your subject isn’t being covered fully, then please let me know and also, please send in an article to cover it.
If you want to use the general material, please do, but please mention History in Harmony as the source and give the web address www.historyinharmony.com Please contact me on article use to ask permission from author.
As ever, should you wish to not be included on this update, then please let me know at boz.oram@andover52.fsnet.co.uk and I’ll remove you forthwith. Conversely, if you know of any other people who would benefit or enjoy this email, then please get them to contact me at the same address.
COURTESY NOTICE
Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Update Compiler. It may be on occasions, necessary to edit material. In such cases utmost care will be taken to ensure that alterations or omissions do not alter the context of the subject or create a misleading or false representation. As a matter of courtesy, the author(s) will be consulted about major alterations. Finally, (to those who don’t already know) I am a bit dyslexic, which doesn’t help me with the spelling or grammar, so if you are struggling with the content, remember I’m also having the same problem on a permanent basis! (thank God for the spell checker).
With kind wishes
Boz Oram
Email address for correspondence boz.oram@andover52.fsnet.co.uk
Website www.historyinharmony.com
tel +UK (0) 8700 113994
Published on iMOD with kind permission of Boz Oram.
