Organ Update 21
UPDATE Compiled by Boz Oram
boz@historyinharmony.com
www.historyinharmony.com
Welcome to Update Number 21 – and a big and hearty welcome to all of members on the Update. Thank you also for your continued support and please keep passing this update around -
November Tour
The November tour to Holland is filling up nicely and is open to all lovers of mechanical music. The details are elsewhere in this edition of Update but in order to find out more, please contact tours@historyinharmony.com
Marie Curie Ladies Driving Challenge
On the 2nd October 2005, I went into the depths of Dorset to a rather unusual venue. It was a Ladies Driving Day that was held on the Military Ranges near to Bovington, not far from the Tank Museum. Organised by the Marie Curie Cancer Trust, the Ladies get sponsored for at least £100 plus, and when they achieve this amount are invited to go and have a day driving all sorts of different machinery such as articulated lorries, tractors, police cars, fire engines, 4x4’s, WW2 vehicles, Off Road stuff and last but not least, have fun on a steam engine. That’s where I came in helping out with Beryl, a Marshall road roller from Robert’s stable, Jubilee, John’s Marshall tractor and Tiger a Burrell Gold Medal tractor from Richard’s collection. Funnily enough, we had so many people who have seen these engines around and thought that it would be nice to just climb aboard and have a bit of fun talking to the driver and maybe having a steer of one. Well, plenty of people had a run about on these three engines and the general feedback was that this would be great if it could be done at traction engine rallies! Hopefully we’ll see a few more women at the controls of these old relics from the past. For further details of what the Marie Curie trust does, then go to http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/ For those who aren’t too sure of who Marie Curie was, she was, with her husband those brilliant people who connected Radium to a helpful cure for cancer and many of us owe our lives to them both.
Since writing this, I received a charming letter from Julia Chapman who thanked me for helping out at the Driving Challenge and said that they cannot run these days out without the help and support of people volunteering their services and also said that the day’s event raised a total of £21,500, plus a further figure from Gift Aid will be coming in. She also enclosed a further challenge for men and women to do battle! A 4 x 4 Off Road Challenge which will be run by Land Rover where you can go through deep water, drive blind and test your driving skills to the limit and the event is to be held in February 2006. For further details either call (UK) (0) 1460 271230 or email Julia on julia.chapman@mariecurie.org.uk
Magic Mechanical Music
After the Waldkirch Festival I realised that I had missed Hansjörg Leible in the High Street of the town – funnily enough I also couldn’t find his website by going through the normal search engines, so if that was the case for me, then it might also be similar for some of you. For those of you who haven’t come across these fascinating instruments, then go onto the website http://www.magic-mechanical-music.de/Hauptseiten/MP-English.html and you’ll have a better idea of why I am so taken by these fascinating instruments. Music, with a sense of humour – plus a whole host of incredible effects! The instruments are individually designed for either barrel or paper operation and play music (of course!) but also operate a series of cams that control the many figurines and specialised components within the instrument.
Hansjörg’s most popular instruments are the Fairy Tale organ and the Dumpling Eater organ, where in the Fairy Tale instrument, the princess throws a golden ball into a frogs mouth and a hen lays golden eggs into her hand. The dumpling Eater is continually eating dumplings, which he swallows and takes them into his stomach! The whole series of events are also accompanied by a series of really good arrangements that also use other sounds not normally associated with mechanical music; a musician who will meet the special requirements of the customer does the arrangements and compositions.
Further details from Hansjörg at Leible@addcom.de who also has a rather wicked sense of humour.
From Richard Dean of Dean Organs down there in Whitchurch Bristol.
I asked about details of the Bruder Organ that was at the Great Dorset Steam Fair for the first public airing in its life in a true owner’s ownership in over 80 years, so here is a little background information for you: (Thanks for this Richard – in fact I have shortened this so that those of you who don’t have too much interest in mechanical music won’t be too bored, however I have passed it on the Editor of the Mechanical Organ Owner’s Society editor and it will be printed, plus photographs in the next edition)
Dear Boz
The organ was built by the German firm of Wilhelm Bruder Sohone, Langestr. 5, Waldkirch, Baden in circa 1921 and built organs, which were operated by barrel, paper roll and book.
Mr James Crighton (Showman and organ dealer) was its first vendor and was used for demonstration purposes to other showmen, to gain orders, and it was stored in true ‘showman fashion’ under a canvas tilt at the back of the living van, and only uncovered when a prospective customer came visiting. Following the Second World War, when the Crighton family stopped travelling, and the Wilhelm Bruder factory had closed, the organ was put in to store, but eventually fell into disrepair. It was stripped down by Jimmy Crighton (James Crighton’s son) and following Jimmy Crighton’s death in the 1980s, the organ passed into the hands of an organ dealer who purchased it from Jimmy Crighton’s widow.
Dean Organs were asked by a client to find an organ for restoration and the purchase of the derelict instrument was made from this dealer with the intention of a full rebuild to the book playing system as the barrel was missing. Unfortunately the original client and his requests fell through and the organ was again put in to storage, this time at Dean Organs.
However, it was not long before Mr Francis Stapleton, a Newbury based organ collector, while visiting Dean Organs, discussed the project and decided that he would like to purchase the instrument and have it fully restored.
Mr Stapleton was happy to have the organ restored as had been discussed with the previous client, with only one addition, that of a triangle to add additional effect to the percussion.
Mr Stapleton collected the organ on the 17th August and a good size library of music has already been added to the instrument. The first official outing for the organ was the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford, where the organ was on display and was well received by the public and enthusiasts. One enthusiast was so enthralled that he made a considerable offer for the instrument, but Mr Stapleton declined, as he does not wish to part with this most rare example.
I hope this gives you something to go on with.
Regards.
Richard
www.themusicboxshop.co.uk
www.deanorgans.co.uk
www.musicshopdirect.co.uk
Firstly, thank you Richard for this to be included in the Update. As I have said, a more in-depth write up will being featured in Vox Humana and further details of the society are available by visiting the website www.moos.org.uk Just as a matter of interest, Richard and Nick also have a shop in Whitchurch near Bristol and sell all manner of musical instruments from musical boxes, guitars (left and right handed ones) plus all manner of musical items right up to the largest organ and the shop is well worth a journey to as the reception is extremely friendly.
From Travel Wire News
KIWI Encounter Hatches 100th Kiwi Chick This is a bit of preserving some of our really special heritage – Well done to the people at Kiwi Encounter for all of their hard work.
Auckland, New Zealand - The 100th chick to be hatched at Kiwi Encounter recently made its way into the world, reinforcing the success of this specialist facility since it was opened in 2004. Kiwi Encounter is located at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua on the North Island.
Kiwi Encounter is part of “Operation Nest Egg”, a kiwi recovery programme.
At hatching on Sunday morning (02 October) Niglet weighted 338 grams and today has passed its health check with flying colours. The kiwi is currently being nourished by its yoke, absorbed at hatch, but will start light food over the next few days. The sex of Niglet is currently unknown until DNA tests are performed.
The egg arrived at Kiwi Encounter on 23rd September along with another from the same clutch. Niglet’s sibling was hatched today (07 October), the 106th hatching. The sibling, known as ‘Nomad’ and Niglet will be released back into their natural environment when they reach 900 grams.
In total there are 30 eggs incubating at Kiwi Encounter with a further 22 chicks in various stages of protective care.
Kiwi Encounter incorporates a working hatchery and nursery, nocturnal area, and outdoor enclosure which are all open to visitors. Kiwi survival increases significantly for birds hatched and raised at Kiwi Encounter, before being released into the wild. A monitoring programme is in place for all released kiwi.
Gustav Bruder.
I have a request from those of you who have a greater knowledge than I. I am trying to find out a bit more about Gustav Bruder and his skills in arranging music. This year, I have been fortunate to hear many different instruments that have had a number of these rather exceptional arrangements in their repertoire and I must say was rather taken by them. The question is – are there any recordings around that feature Gustav Bruder’s music and if so, which ones? Are (is) there a specific recording that features just his work, much like the Carousel Becquart featuring all August Schollaert work. Many thanks to the Fleck workshop in Waldkirch and also to Bill and Rosanna Harris for their patience in playing so much of his music.
STATIONARY ENGINES
Have received this from Steve –
I am in the process of building a new website mainly about stationary engines and was wondering if you would insert my information onto the site? http://www.stationaryengine.org.uk/events/oct/index.htm )
Many Thanks
Steve
stationaryengine@gmail.com
http://www.stationaryengine.org.uk
Steve is also looking for other interested people joining onto his new website so if you can help him in his quest, then the future site will give its visitors a much needed wealth of information about a much-maligned part of the preservation scene. As you can see it is a new site so the more people that start to view it would be great and better still, start to use the forum.
Holiday Showdown
Donald Stewart has approached us from the ITV group, who is keen to get people out onto our television screens that have interesting situations and hobbies and he came to the conclusion that we, who have a life were excellent candidates! Well we all know that, but are you up to having a camera 24/7 around your person? I must admit that our dear old friend and raconteur Fred Dibnah is sadly no more and we do need someone out there who can promote these wonderfully unusual hobbies to the general public at large – I am also guessing that this opportunity can also be handed to people other than those in the UK.
Over to Donald………….
ITV’s Holiday Showdown is looking for confident families with extraordinary holidays. Are you proud enough of your family holiday to put it to the test? If you would like a chance to show how great your holidays are, and to get your trip for FREE,
FANCY A FREE
FAMILY HOLIDAY?
RDF TV is making a new series and is looking for families who have a passion for specific holidays. You could be a cruise enthusiast*, a caravan lover, a sun worshipper or a culture vulture – whatever it is you have to really love it!
Contact Don or Ben on 0207 7013 4474/0207 7013 4563 or email Donald.stewart@rdfmedia.com
Children MUST be over 5 years of age
* hope that that is not missiles
There you go Don - let me know if you have any response at boz@historyinharmony.com
From Peter Craig
Boz,
Here is a little filler for your preservation news:
I arrived home last night to find the High Street in Stevenage Old Town sealed off due to Stevenage Charter Fair taking place over its the entire length! As the weather was good and the chance seemed too good to miss, we wheeled the Verbeeck out for an impromptu performance, which was very well received, the staff on the adjacent take away food stall plying us with tea throughout. As ever, having a new and “non-enthusiast” audience, made it great fun to perform. The event is only on for two days each year (22 and 23 September) so very short in duration.
When did Stevenage Fair last see an organ?
Have any other organ owners made appearances at similar events?
Peter Craig
Commercial Advisor
Operations & Customer Service
Network Rail
Thanks for that Peter – I took mine to the Pewsey Carnival just a couple of weeks ago for another year. I must admit that I do seem to have a series of people who look forward to hearing the instrument and finding out what new music I have got since the previous year. I also got chastised for not going to it two years ago when I went instead to Romania!
Talking of different countries
History in Harmony have these different tours going on which now that they have been sent out to their membership, is available to all.
Holland
The Giant of Westerloo November Tour. Peter Craig has painstakingly put this tour together for a tour throughout Holland. Called the Giant of Westerloo, one of the largest mechanical organs that has never been travelled in many a year is open to our tour. Places being visited – Restaurant ‘t Hoekske, De Voer, Dannt de Bie, Klessens, the Netherlands Boekorgel Centrum, Henk Veeningen, Draaiorgel Museum Assen, and finally to the collections of Jos Leclair and Luc Peeter.
Germany
January 2006 Model Engineering and Museums Tour. A regular feature in the calendar now. In those winter months when you are fed up with the same old weather and boring conversation, his is the opportunity of going to visit Europe’s premier model engineering exhibition in Sinsheim (Echtdamph Hallentreffen) as well as some of the finest museums in Europe, including the rather splendid transport museums in Sinsheim and Speyer www.messe-sinsheim.de or http://www.messe-sinsheim.de/en/60083?showback=true&parent_id=27404 and the Nuremburg rail museum amongst others.
Holland
June 2006 Dordt in Stoom. Returning back to Holland, the rather famous festival in Dordrecht takes place. Held on a bi-annual basis, the show features shipping, tugs, canal craft and road steam. Vintage busses, steam trains and goodness only knows whatever else, including barber and shanty singing and a whole lot of women stuff like clothes, flowers and the more gentle things of life. It never ceases to amaze me what they manage to pull out of the hat every time the show takes place. Also included in the tour are the fabulous Bakkersmolen, the Parade of Steam, Hoorn, the Medemblik Steam Museum, http://www.museumstoomtram.nl/stoomtram/ENGELS/homeEng.html Kinderdijk http://www.kinderdijk.nl/ plus others.
Dordrecht websites: http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/home_eng.htm or for a more in-depth account http://www.dordtinstoom.nl/programma04_main.htm
Switzerland, Germany, France.
Les Gets, Switzerland and Waldkirch 2006. Waldkirch is a great place during the festival, but you just really don’t get the chance to see all of the exhibitions and workshops on a realistic basis so the Workshops of Stafan Fleck and Jaeger and Brommer will be visited, plus our own tour of the excellent Elztalmuseum which will give you an idea of the rich tapestry of organ building in the Black Forest, plus the Musee Baud and the festival in Les Gets. Well known in the worldwide calendar, this is a superb opportunity of seeing the instruments of France plus a whole host from elsewhere. Switzerland has many different collections, however we are going to the Nostalgishes Musikparadies of Adolf Kessler, the fine collection of Fredy Kunzle and the Musee Suisse Schweizerische Nationamuseen. This tour will be by air or should you wish train. Overseas visitors can be picked up from Basel Airport.
Further details for all of these tours, please contact tours@historyinharmony.com
Steam Plough Club
Next year the SPC will be 40 years of age – originally started by Harold Bonnett and a few others, the club strives to continue with the skills that surely would have been lost in the mists of time. Cable ploughing, I am told is still the most efficient way of getting better crop yields as no heavy compaction takes place in the soil.
This is a bit of advance warning as I see that they also hope to get 11 steam sets together with their associated tackle to the Rempstone rally to celebrate the centenary of Beeby Bros. 11, which by the way was the amount of sets that Beeby Bros had in their heyday.
Further information from their up-to-date website http://www.steamploughclub.org.uk/
The Next Challenge? In 2006 at Rempstone, Leicestershire
Invitations are being issued for the Great Challenge on 10-11 September 2006.
This will be held at Mike Beeby’s invitation near Nottingham.
COAL SOURCE
This is taken from the National Traction Engine Trust’s (NTET) official website http://ntet.co.uk/index.htm Fortunately there is a lot of talk about the quality of coal as well as the method of firing a steam engine so as to not produce unnecessary smoke. The days of making as much smoke as possible have long gone especially as the General Public do not like such a thick amount of smoke going into their clothes etc.
New source of Steam Coal located
Rudrum Holdings now have steam coal available at Avonmouth as follows.
New Steam Coal The analysis is the same as the Brunel material that they have sold until now. The only difference is the Volatility that is close to the old Welsh Dry Steam Coal at 14/15% and should offer a further reduction in smoke:
BRUNEL STEAM
EHB NEW STEAM
Volatile Matter
21-23
14-15
Ash Content
7-9
7-9
Moisture Content
4-6
4-6
Sulphur Content
0.3
0.3
Gross CV
30470 kj/kg
30580 kj/kg
Trial loads are immediately available. For further information, contact details are:
PAUL KIRBY
EH BENNETT & CO LTD
TEL: 01179826781 and use website www.ehbennett.co.uk or use the email address pkirby@rudrumholdings.co.uk As you can see, EH Bennett have already done some groundwork and you have a contact in the shape of Paul Kirby.
However, so as to not show favouritism I have also included a few other producers and stockists and have removed the ones that don’t work from the official list.
Producers
UK Coal plc
www.ukcoal.com
EH Bennett & Co. Ltd
www.ehbennett.co.uk
Fergusson Coal
www.fergussoncoal.co.uk
CPL
www.cplindustries.co.uk
Celtic Energy
www.coal.com
Dr Busker
Funnily enough, Dr Busker is one of the most well-known characters on the circuit and is quite extraordinary in his musical ability in keeping the traditions going by being the original Victorian Pub Pianists who would keep a steady stream of tunes and songs flowing, while the Pub Landlord kept a steady stream of beer and money flowing in the Pianist's direction. Dr. Busker continues the tradition to this day with his wide repertoire of songs to suit all tastes, including a large number of his own songs, accompanied with great skill on piano-forte and squeezebox. Dr. Busker appears at many Steam Rallies and Country Fairs throughout Britain, and at pubs and clubs all year round. If you want to know more, then I suggest that you go to his website http://www.doctorbusker.com/ I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience!
Fuel Prices
I note that the price of fuel had a slight dip during the protests, but unfortunately have gone back up to the previous record levels. Maybe if we continue to boycott the two respective fuel distributors mentioned previously, then maybe something will actually happen for our benefit - for once.
Old Warden
Last month a couple of venues were spoken about in this Update, one of them being the steam Rally at Old Warden and was the opportunity of getting together the fine array of steam engines that had been saved from many a scrapman by John Crawley – a man who we are all in debt to for his foresight. Engines present from that old stable were the film star engine The Iron Maiden (Kitchener) built by Fowlers of Leeds, Burrells William V and No 1, the McLaren traction of 1882 and 1918 plough engine Avis. The oldest surviving tandem roller in the UK, plus the 1908 Aveling and Porter Roller; the two Aveling Barford rollers, the T3 Fowler roller Princess Caroline, also a bit of a film star and another Caroline, but this time from Wallis and Steevens, a 1926 Foden C Type, a 1920 Standard Sentinel and of course the oldest steam wagon in the world Dorothy built by Thorneycroft. This wasn’t the whole gamut of engines saved by John but a goodly selection and well done to the Bedford Steam Club for their excellent perseverance in getting so many together. They made a bravura sight standing in front of the front of the Shuttleworth Mansion. Didn’t go? Well this is one of the best shows in the country and I am told that the next year’s date is the 16-18th September and as a bonus to all of you who read this, you’ll see that the show lasts for three days as the organisers have been told that two days is not enough time to see the whole show! Now to me, that is real value for money and I guarantee that you’ll enjoy every minute of it. http://www.bseps.org.uk/ is the place to start.
Scammell Weekend and Victorian Extravaganza.
Now what else? Ah yes, I also mentioned that on the same weekend of Old Warden was to be a special Scammell weekend organised by Joby Carter, possibly the UK’s man who has a love affair with the traditional fairground and travels difficult rides to entertain our discerning public. http://www.carters-steam-fair.co.uk/ Carter’s Fair is well known throughout London and the Home Counties as a place where people can have a family day out, but the real essence is that the show is run by a family for the family and this really shows when people are on the fairground as all you can see are happy, smiling faces. The idea of the whole show was to show people how a fairground would have been presented during a certain period of time, in this case somewhere in the late 50’s early 60’s and in the fair was a token showman’s engine – King George VI presented on behalf of SODEM with its message of “they’ll never do it”, referring to the Scammell Showtracs not being able to power the fair. As it happened, no one showed up his or her respective charges and the whole weekend was a total success. Another success was this last weekend 8/9th October when the fair presented the Original Incredibles – a harp back to the Victorian era of showing people who were able to do rather unusual things with their bodies. With imported showland equipment in the shape of Nick Barker’s Garrett No 4 CD tractor powering the proscenium that was in front of Jimmy Noyce’s Marenghi/Whitehead and somewhere in between the two was a stage. The familiar sound of barkers giving a taste of what was to lie before the excited public went into the auditorium, brought about a whole host of people getting into the Victorian swing of things and whilst I was standing talking to various people, noticed many people going back into the show to see it for a second time! I do hope that it will be repeated again, and I did see Peter taking photos for publication elsewhere.
From Jørgen Rosland in Denmark
Hello Boz
I have put pen to paper to let you know how things went on at our first festival in Denmark, in the town of Holbæk 16-17 September. As I told you it was arranged in a bit of a hurry, as we has only started our club "Nordiske Lirekassevenner" in April 2005 www.lirekassevenner.dk, see pictures in our album. The town had no budget, so we went very easy on them, with no reimbursement for transport, only food and a hotel. But we did have a good and very successful festival, and it seems that it’s also a good idea to make such events happen in the northern part of Europe.
We had 12 small street organs, and 22 participants, and then I had contact with Cor Anjema from Holland, and he was interested in supporting our festival with his wonderful 92 tones Carl Frei from 1924 (6 meter long) organ mounted on a truck. Name of the organ is "De Noorderkroon" and is a really a wonderful piece, and maybe I here should tell that he wishes to sell the instrument. Give him a call and say hello from me, (o519)561926.
Back to the our festival, I will say that with such success we do plan to arrange a further festival in Copenhagen, this time with many more organs and also big street organs, and hope that it takes place in the month of September next year. If I am able to find more sponsors to pay for "the total" it will take place along the pedestrianised street "Strøget" in Copenhagen - I am sure it would be great success.
Boz, can I ask if there are any interested people who would be interested in participating in such event, we do have the problem that wherever you come from there are bridges or ferryboats involved and I do not know how big people’s expenses will be for taking part of the first Street organ festival in HC Andersen’s Town Copenhagen.
For those interested, you can drop me a line to jorgen@rosland.dk or phone 0045-36304047 which would give me some idea about interest, also you can have a look at the festival at www.rosland.dk
Also I would like to pass on information about the mechanical festival in Tallin, Estonia going on in the period 29 June – 02 July 2006, I am going for sure! If anyone is interested, contact risto.lehiste@tmm.es or another part of organization from mechanical museum in Finland Jurgen Kempf, jurgen.kempf@mekaanisenmusiikinmuseo.fi (he is also member of our new founded club in Scandinavia)
This is all for now, and I am looking forward to hear from you all. BY THE WAY!!!! I am looking for some 26er or 37er Hofbaur Organs, (old system, not system 2000) for some clients, as we use the "Watterot"midi system in our group, and do have a lot of Danish music, so if anybody know of a good buy, I am very interested, most convenient to collect in Germany.
Best regards Jørgen Rosland
Many thanks for that Jørgen, and hopefully your words will encourage some response in your quest.
Marder Road Run
Every now and again, a little gathering takes place and has some of the most lovely exhibits taking part. In this case, it is the Ox Drove Road Run, organised by Derek and Sandra Marder of Andover, with help from the Thames Valley Traction Engine Society http://www.tvtec.info/ Starting off from Ox Drove, it meanders through some of the prettiest Hampshire scenery through Longparish (one of the longest villages in the UK, Hurstbourne Priors and then returns back to whence it started. Items in the road run were some of the steam engines from the Stable as well as other engines from all over the country, plus motorcycles, Percy Poppers (Field Marshalls), lorries, cars and plenty of tractors, plus one steam car from East Anglia. An absolutely perfect day with the Autumnal feel in the trees, plus that really pleasant sunshine radiating through the leaves down to this excellent road run. Many thanks for Derek and Sandra for hosting this excellent event and look out for it in next year’s calendar. By the way, there was no smoke being emitted from the majority of engines and those that did, the amount was minimal. Now was it the quality of the fuel or was it the way of firing? Answers on an email please and I’ll let you know the result.
That’s it for the time being. Many thanks for those individuals who have kept me informed with what’s going on in the world and thanks for putting it into words to keep the rest of you informed. As per usual, all of the websites have been tested to see whether they work. As you might be aware, all you have to do is double click onto the website and the hyperlink will take you through to your chosen destination. Good luck and if you have any real gems, then pass them on.
If you have any interesting news, please can you supply me with it - all subjects are welcome to be discussed. If you feel that your subject isn’t being covered fully, then please let me know and/or 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@historyinharmony.com and I’ll remove you forthwith. Conversely, if you know of any other people who would 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.
With kind wishes
Boz Oram
The email address for all correspondence is boz@historyinharmony.com
For all tours tours@historyinharmony.com
Website www.historyinharmony.com
tel +UK (0) 8700 113994
Published on iMOD with kind permission of Boz Oram.
