Organ Update 15
UPDATE Compiled by Boz Oram
boz@historyinharmony.com
www.historyinharmony.com
Welcome to Update Number 15 – and a big welcome to all of the new people who are on the Update. As usual, there are no photographs as there are plenty of people who are not on broadband, so a big file takes ages to download and there is no point in creating problems just for the sake of it, plus it takes ages for me to send it out! I will also be sending the update from boz@historyinharmony.com shortly, so if you have a block on new email addresses and you still want the Update, then please alter your settings. The reason is that I spend more time at Shrewton than the other physical address so will make it easier for sending it out.
As they say, you can wait for a bus, and then all of a sudden a plethora arrives with you all at once. The reason for this is actually to get one piece of information out rather rapidly – that being the funeral of Harold Jennings – well known in the mechanical organ world as being quite a pioneer, but also quite a remarkable person to whom many hold a debt of gratitude, but a fuller write up later.
Again I have messed up the AGM notes of a different society other than the MOOS. This time it was the FOPS, so at least I have kept it in the family of mechanical music, but I am pleased to say that I did take notes from another source, therefore the cock-up is not totally upon me this time. As it has been said in other areas, you have to break a few eggs to make a scrambled mess! Thanks to Nick for his input.
Something that I am very keen to try and promote, is other people’s activities within the world of preserving our heritage, and in this issue I have looked at our milling cousin’s hobby. In fact we have an idea for a long time to give a milling holiday to you so that you can become a miller one day! If you have any ideas please contact me at boz@historyinharmony.com and likewise, if you have any interest, please contact me.
Throughout the world, this was the way that we were able to make flour or use water for different tasks or maybe other things like producing electricity and this is just an opportunity for all people to go and look at these amazing pieces of our working architecture. On this occasion it is within the confines of Belgium and I’ll just give you a sample of what is going on in just one area, however the areas of Antwerp (28th August), Vlaams Brabant (28th August), Limburg (South 26th June – North 3rd July), East Flanders (16th October), and not forgetting West Flanders (5th June), put on Open Days for all to go and see the wind and milling areas of the country. This I guess goes on in other countries as well, so if there is anyone out there who can furnish me with further information, then do so, but please a bit of translation could be in order! t = telephone in the text, so if you want to have a telephone call – you’ll have to put the code from your own country in front to connect. From the UK it is 0032. With any luck, I might receive email addresses shortly, which means that it will be easier to converse.
BELGIAN MOLENS
I have taken the area of Antwerp in Belgium for the 28th August as an example of an open day:
Antwerpen ‘t Veertje. Standerdmolen
Aartslaar Molen van ‘t Heiken info t 03/8772257 Standerdmolen
Arendonk Toremansmolen t 014/678569 Houten achtkant
Balen Hoolstmolen t 014/811974 Watermolen
Berendrecht (Antwerp) Buitenmolen
Brecht Stenen Molen t 03/3147185 Stenen Beltmolen
Boechout Konijnenbergstraat 2 te Boechout t 03/4558832 Stenen Beltmolen
Bouwel Molenstraat 39 t 03/3664539 Standerdmolen
Geel Molen van Larum t 014/570935 Standerdmolen
Geel Molen van ‘t Veld t 014/850638 Standerdmolen
Gierle, In Stormen Sterk t 014/612765 Stenen Grondzeiler
Grobbendonk t 014/511073 Watermolen
Heist-op-den-Berg Kaasstrooimolen t 015/251582 Standerdmolen
Hoogstraten Laarmolen t 03/3144977 Watermolen
Hoogstraten Salm-Salmolen Stenen Beltmolen
Kasterlee Keeses Molen t 104/850001 Standerdmolen
Liezele Puurs Watermolen
Lille, De Slagmolen t 014/881636 Rosmolen
Lillo (Antwerp) De Eenhoorn Stenen Stellingmolen
Meerseldreef (Hoogstraten) Meerseldreef t 03/3159556 Stenen Stellingmolen
Meerhout Prinskenmolen t 014/304542 Turbinewatermolen
Mol, Molen van Ezaart t 014/330785 Stenen Grondzeiller
Noorderwijk (Herentals) Hogewegmolen t 03/3664539 www.hogewegmolen.be Standerdmolen
Oelegem (centre of town) t 0479/505527 Stenen Beltmolen
Olen Buulmolen t 014/263387 Standerdmolen
Olmen (Balen) t 014/300399 Watermolen
Pulderbos (Zandhoven) t 03/4846916 Stenen Beltmolen
Ravels De Nachtegaal der Maatvennen t 014/655152 Stenen Beltmolen
Retie De Heerser t 014/814594 Standerdmolen
Retie Watermolen t 014/371818 Watermolen
Rijkevorsel Looiweg. T (vvv) 03/3400012 (email vvv.toerisme@rijkevorsel.be) Stenen Beltmolen
Tielen (Katerlee) Watermolenstraat 6 t 014/557148 Watermolen
Turnhout Goormolen Stenen stellingmolen
Weelde (Ravels) Arbeid Adelt t 014/656117 Stenen stellingmolen
Westmalle (Malle) Antwerpsesteenweg 378. t 03/3100514 (email info@toerisme-malle.be) Stenen Beltmolen
Wildert (Essen – Bakkersmolen) t 03/6772267 Stenen stellingmolen
Zittaart (Meerhout) Lindenstraat 55. t 014/302376 Standerdmolen
Stenen stellingmolen – Standerdmolen - Stenen Beltmolen - Watermolen -
Stenen Grondzeiller - Rosmolen - Turbinewatermolen - Houten achtkant –
With these descriptive names above, I am at a bit of a loss to describe them accurately, so rather than try and get it right through guesswork can someone point me in the right direction.
I have websites for some of the many different mills in Belgium to pass on:
Levende Molens www.levendemolens.be Molenzorg – Molenecho www.molenechos.org West-Vlaamse Molens www.wwmolens.be
I expect that there are others – please pass them on so that I can publish them for you. Plus I am sure that there are websites for other countries. Finally, I believe that there is a similar thing that goes on in the UK, but again I don’t know where to look. Please let other people know about your hobby.
Lest we Forget
Harold Jennings: Jim to me was one of those people who just inspired people around him. A sense of humour that was beyond reproach and a view on life that just defied belief. Now this view was most colourful and full of everything that you just normally wouldn’t manage to imagine and all from a man who had been totally blind since his very early years. To him, it was just another way of life and not a way of expecting anything else that wasn’t due. He had memories of the working fairground and the mechanical organ sound, which most likely prompted him into buying “The Mincer” a Perlee hand-turned instrument, another of which is in the British Royal Household. He also had a passion for jazz music, from contemporary to traditional and used a phrase of “listening in colour” to describe some of the music. There are plenty of stories that I could relate, but I’m sure that there are plenty of you out there who knew him and have you own thoughts.
Norma, his wife has been in touch with me to let people know that his funeral will be on the 26th of this month at 12.30 hrs at the Harwood Crematorium, which is between Knebworth and Stevenage. The celebration of his life will be a Humanist occasion and it is preferable to not wear black. To my old friend, who was a teenager at heart, I’ll miss you. Linda’s and my thoughts are with Norma, Graham and his many friends and family.
People’s Hobbies
From Model Collector (editor Lindsay Amrani), the magazine that specialises in die cast examples of old and modern models of all types (email modelcollector@ipcmedia.com), a couple of news items that will be of general interest, is that Christie’s have re-scheduled their Fine Toys Sale originally planned for May 18th to June 2nd 2005, and any enquiries should be addressed to Hugo Marsh on +UK (0) 1733 370800 and for those of you who are interested in collecting models, the magazine carries a monthly and comprehensive Swap Meet Diary, listing a super selection of meetings that go on throughout the UK.
For example:
June
4th Chester (from 10.00hrs) Northgate Arena
5th Falkirk (from 13.00hrs) Graeme High School, Calendar Road
11th Crawley (from 10.30hrs) Crawley Leisure Centre
12th Dartford (from 10.30hrs) Leigh City Tech
12th Rugby (from 19.00hrs) Benn Hall, Newbold Road
15th New Forest (from 19.00hrs) Minstead Village Hall
19th Orpington (from 10.30hrs) Orpington Halls
25th Maidstone (from 09.00hrs) Lock Meadow Market and Leisure Complex
26th Market Harborough Welland Park College
Further details about Swapmeets, models, history etc from Model Collector at www.modelcollector.co.uk about subscriptions and details of future events in the model world.
From Stuart Maggs in Southampton. UK
Well known Stuart, famous for travelling the remarkable Old Joe’s cider bar that sold Suicider that rather extraordinary drink, is putting on a charity event at the Gate Public House, Burgess Road in Southampton on the 30/31st July says that all are welcome with their exhibits. There will be a gratuity of free beer and good food for all who make the effort of taking their engines, organs etc. For further information, call Stuart on 07989 600397
From John Glover, Chairman of the Mechanical Organ Owner’s Society www.moos.org.uk the Belvoir Castle Rally is on the 21/22nd May. Held at the Castle grounds at Woolsthorpe near Grantham by kind permission of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, the show features plenty of vintage vehicles, but also has a very good family programme for all to come and enjoy. In fact the entertainment is returning back to the days of giving value for money. Good luck to John who has recently had a hernia sorted out - hopefully he can laugh without pain anymore! For the commercial vehicle enthusiast, there is a Foden and ERF lorry gathering as well as a special Ford and Fordson Tractor display with a road run on Saturday. Live entertainment from the irrepressible Dr Busker and the Ambassadors of Borrowash Showband. The show is sponsored by Old Glory.
Future Stuff
I have been asked to write about our tours for all to see, so in due course I’ll do that, (or maybe one of our travellers could, so my biased view won’t come across!). Also, I have been asked to supply a fuller and detailed list of the tours that History in Harmony produce. I have also been asked to supply a couple of technical articles such as the recent Paint ‘cha Wagon. If you also have anything that would be useful to the readership, then please do pass them on so that we can all learn. The Update is now mailed to nearly 600 people and getting bigger by the day – not bad for just 15 issues!
My la-*test*-('") correction
Hi Boz,
Another great update - keep up the good work! One correction I must mention though, regarding the FOPS AGM. Paul Kirrage is mentioned twice (though with different spellings!), so I can only assume that by "Paul Kerridge’s super Ruth" you mean Sam Price's replica German Fair organ, which was actually copied from a Bruder. Also, the original builder of my 38-key that was present should actually be spelt 'Catri Opdam', but not to worry, the rest all looked about right, though I assume you've taken the text from elsewhere, as I remember some of the aforementioned mistakes there.
Kindest regards,
Nick Williams
Thanks for that Nick – I expect there will be a few more in this one as I haven’t had time to proof read it (what’s the difference I hear you ask!)
From Wolfgang Brommer in Waldkirch, Germany.
Wolfgang, as many of you know is the other half of Jaeger & Brommer and their workshop will be open for all to view their work and la-*test*-('") instruments during the Waldkirch Music Festival. I for one thoroughly enjoy going there, as there is always so much enthusiasm towards everything. Look forward to meeting up with you when we arrive down there with the Waldkirch Tour. Have included Wolfgang’s email for you to contact if you so wish.
With all my best wishes
Wolfgang Brommer, Massr Orgenbuilder, Jaeger & Bommer -German Organ Company email info@waldkircher-orgelbau.de website http://www.jaegerbrommer.de
From Derek and Pauline Legg
Hi Boz,
Many thanks for the la-*test*-('") update. What a small world we live in, the article from Des Lang in Australia brings back memories for us. We visited Oz in 1998 at the kind invitation of David and Daphne Holt who, at the time, also owned a Findlay organ called Gallery of Clowns. During our stay with them we had the pleasure of talking to Des on the phone and if ever we return (which we would very much like to do) David and Daphne have Des on their itinerary for us to visit.
Kind regards
Derek & Pauline
From Des Lang in Australia
Dear Boz
The Australian Mechanical Organ Society will be having its annual get together in Wagga Wagga on the weekend of 29/30 of October this year. We will be holding the Rally in the Botanical Gardens, this will coincide with the Rose Festival that they have at that time of the year. We have been able to book the Golf View Motel for accommodation and the Friday night’s activities. We will have around 15 Organs in attendance, which will be a mix of medium and small instruments to present to the public and enjoy whilst they are in the gardens.
Regards Des.
Whilst on my travels in Oz, I passed through Wagga Wagga and if I remember rightly, Wagga means crows and by repeating the word, means many crows. It was also the first time I had ever seen white peacocks. I must admit that the weather was beautiful, if not quite hot, but as October is the start of Spring in that part of the hemisphere, then the temperature will be just right! Hope it goes well for you.
That’s it so far. Grateful thanks for all contributions and contributors to the Update.
Please 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, especially with the foreign words and spelling!
With kind wishes
Boz Oram
As usual the email address for correspondence is boz.oram@andover52.fsnet.co.uk
HOWEVER, shortly I’ll be moving the address to boz@historyinharmony.com as I’ll be able to spend more time on it and also give myself the opportunity of proof reading it!
Website www.historyinharmony.com
tel +UK (0) 8700 113994
Published on iMOD with kind permission of Boz Oram.
