Organ Update 22
UPDATE Compiled by Boz Oram
boz@historyinharmony.com
www.historyinharmony.com
Welcome to Update Number 22 – 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 -
Stanley Museum. Kingfield Maine
On Ormond Beach Florida on the 26th January 1906, the Stanley Steam car (or Rocket Racer) driven by Fred Marriott recorded the fastest speed of 127.659 miles per hour (205.5 km/h), beating four petrol-powered vehicles to pick up the Dewar Trophy that was rewarding the fastest vehicles on land. The Stanley Museum is holding a celebration on Thursday 26th January 2006 on Ormond Sand (which I am guessing to be near to Daytona Beach – maybe someone could let me know please) and is scheduled to start at 9.00am, (depending upon tides) They will also be using the 10hp replica - the original being crashed on the same beach a year later with Fred Marriott surviving the crash with concussion, broken ribs and a few cuts. The replica originally being built by Morris Frost and ran on the beach in 1971. The machine is being rebuilt to partake in these celebrations, but I am not sure whether a speed attempt will take place. The event is also to be taken over five days and will feature, what may be the largest collection of steam cars ever, as well as many Gas Racers.
Reason for rare attempts by steam propulsion? American automobile manufacturers threatened boycotting the races, questioning the Stanley steam car’s legititimacy to enter and calling it a freak. After the crash, the rules of the tournament were changed to exclude steam racers (well fancy that) so that they would not have competition from a superior machine. It is a well known fact that steam cars are smooth, silent, have few moving parts, and with a bit of development, would have become far simpler to use for the General Public at large – we would most likely be using them in preference as they would now be far better for the environment with their emissions using Hydrogen etc. I wonder how history would have gone in transport had the motor industry had actually played fair? Further details on either the excellent Stanley Museum website www.stanleymuseum.org or the specially prepared website for this rather special event www.birthplaceofspeed2006.com
From Peter Griffiths (who hints that I may have become a bit too serious on the Update)
THE YEAR'S BEST HEADLINES OF 2003 FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
And the winner is....
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
(Please remember that I have also removed plenty that may have been offensive!)
Peter
petergriffiths@griffithsorgans.co.uk
website at www.griffithsorgans.co.uk
Peter Griffiths Organ Builder
Hawkshead, Cumbria
UK Phone/Fax (+44) 015394 36609 Mobile 0774 7096836
Thanks for that Peter – I hope that we get more different humorous bits and pieces for the winter editions. (OK so have a hot and sunny summer to those on the other side of the hemisphere to me!)
Lest We Forget – Peter Wyatt
To all who knew him, Uncle Peter, a man dedicated to the preservation of our history and as a consequence saved a lot of interesting artefacts for us all to enjoy – one being Royal Star, a unique 1914 Wallis and Steevens showman’s tractor that when I originally saw it at a Hungerford steam show, had a tree growing through the middle of it! With a lot of tenacity, the engine returned to the rally fields in its original form and was most likely the first of the “No Hopers” in the area that got rebuilt. Funnily enough, during its working life of just 13 years, it fell over twice! Peter was also a great fan of Showland equipment with countless photographs and anecdotes of what had happened in various shows around the country, especially as he was the one who used to go and speak to all of the Showmen. Holidays at Home during WW2 was explicitly explained in an article written by Peter for me when I once compiled a newsletter - a youngster like me didn’t even know about these events from only just 25 years before I was born, but thanks to Peter, I found out about a bit more of life. He also had an extremely good memory and with that you could ask him about the past. A fine example is that in the latest edition of Steaming, the NTET’s magazine, it has a Foden steam wagon when in Goodey’s scrapyard. No doubt he could have told us all what engine it was, and whether it was around now in just a flash of an instant.
Peter had various shops in Hungerford his final shop in the High Street was where you could get your Lardy Cake, bread and goodness only knows what else and of course it was the meeting place for everyone – much like a village shop, but in the middle of the town! Finally Peter retired in 1984 and his nephew Barnaby took the shop over and the same chatting emporium carried on! Must be a family tradition. Peter also had a very strong interest in mechanical music and at one time owned a rare 65key Ruth fairground organ. He also had a Marenghi 48 key fair organ, bought at an auction in Newbury, plus an original and rare 42 Limonaire and I believe also a Leach instrument. The Marenghi was travelled around the countryside until Barnaby took over and carried on the tradition.
Peter will be sadly missed, but in his 76 years of life he brought a lot of joy to all who met him, and this certainly showed at the funeral on the 24th October in the Church of St Lawrence in Hungerford. The Wallis was also put back together and steam tested for the occasion and stood like a sentinel opening the gateway to another life. My condolences to the family and friends of Peter, but especially to Barnaby and his family.
Dordt in Stoom
The Bi-annual festival held in Dordrecht, Holland is back with us again and History in Harmony is now taking bookings with the departure date being Thursday 18th May, returning Monday 22nd May 2006. For those who don’t know of this event, it is full of visiting steam boats, ships and all associated floating vessels including a huge steam grain disperser (for want of a better description). Full sized steam railway locomotives transport passengers from the generating station to the rail station. Vintage busses work in conjunction with the steam and other vessels, plus model exhibition, road steam and things for the other half to enjoy such as embroidery, shanty singing and a whole host of other diversions. On this tour, you will also be able to enjoy other locations, such as the famous Hoorn to Medemblik Steam Railway, the UNESCO Kinderdijk Windmills, travelling on a preserved tram running with the regular trams, plus more. Further details from the usual address or contact tours@historyinharmony.com
FBHVC
The FBHVC and FIVA (Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens) are bodies that are trying to make sure that we as preservationists, throughout Europe, are able to keep our charges upon the road. As a consequence, they have sent out a survey to be completed by preservationists around the country AND Europe. It isn’t a piece of junk mail, but an important piece of necessary information that is needed to go forward into the future. Please fill it in and return as soon as possible.
All forms must be returned by 31st December 2005, as they need a cut-off date to work to collate all of the replies
Steam Haulage
I think the last proper steam haulage was done during the Suez Crisis back in 1957 (or thereabouts) with agricultural, road locomotives and steam wag(g)ons doing the hard work ((steam rollers still being used right up to the 70’s), however a request has gone out to all Showman’s Engine owners who want to haul real Showland rides in London and the Home Counties. Unfortunately, the cost of fuel is becoming prohibitive in the UK and another form of prime mover has to be made available if anyone is to make a living! Sounds hard but unfortunately, that seems to be the way at the moment and Carter’s Steam Fair is seriously considering the thought of running steam to try and compete with the high fuel prices, so if there are any people out there with these magnificent machines who would be happy to work their engines for maybe a week or two at a time, then please do get in touch with Joby. The annual event at Pinkney’s Green has shown that steam is still an excellent form of a power source and also a crowd puller, but also can it be more efficient? Well only time will tell and the best way is to contact Joby Carter on webmaster@carters-steam-fair.co.uk
No 10460 – Hawaiian Cable Ploughing Engine
The much awaited sale of the Fowler Ploughing engine that had been sent to Hawaii and the Pacific Honolulu Sugar Mills in 1905 and had recently ended up in the Heidrick Collection at Woodland California USA, has finally been sold at auction with a whole host of vintage tractors and other farming equipment. The buyer of the steamer was a Canadian agent, however with the jungle drums sending out all sorts of messages to all and sundry, the word on the street is that it has been bought for an English buyer. Maybe upon being rebuilt, it will return to the US with another engine and show how cable ploughing was done, especially as there are precious few cable ploughs in the United States.
Plow Engines
Also in the US, three Case 110hp traction engines pulled 60 John Deere plows at Rantoul Illinois on August 26th. It appears that the goal was achieved, but keeping three enormous steam engines in line together and straight was quite a job in itself! The occasion wasn’t made that much easier by the extremely hard soil that was due to the drought, however the crowd of some 20,000 people witnessed the spectacle on the Saturday and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. These Case Traction Engines are the direct pulling variety as opposed to our own English style of cable operating steam engines - hence the reason for putting in the previous little snippet to emphasise the difference.
Battle of Trafalgar 1805 21st October. (2005 celebration)
Its amazing what you learn about things after a particular event takes place and one that was almost becoming a vague recollection in our British schools. The Battle of Trafalgar was the culmination of a series of battles that had been fought in Europe and this was the final nail in the coffin so to speak. Fought of the South West Coast of Spain, at Cape Trafalgar, the British were at war with Spain and Napoleon’s France and had been for a considerable time before. On this 200th anniversary, all countries have joined in the celebration of realising that this battle was possible the most significant development in joining the Continent of Europe together, and as a consequence, HMS Chatham and other vessels from the representatives of France and Spain laid wreaths upon the site of the sea battle and then a commemoration in Cadiz with all countries represented showed how the joining of Europe and the world is continuing. In the battle itself, some 47,000 men fought in the battle with about 8,000 casualties and strangely enough, of those who died in the English fleet, some 450 men, only three marked graves exist – two in Gibraltar and the other in St Paul’s Cathedral - the others of course being buried at sea.
Staged in the UK at HMS Victory in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship was the centrepiece of the celebrations with HM Queen Elizabeth lighting the beacon that set off hundreds of beacons throughout the UK to a 52-gun salute from one side of the firepower of HMS Victory. Strangely enough, the firepower just from HMS Victory (104 cannons) was more that what Wellington (or the Iron Duke) had at Waterloo! These fighting ships were the state of the art war machines and were at that time the most powerful weapons of war – and that must have been truly frightening to work with – especially when in battle. Just the noise, the smoke, blood and the close proximity of just being next to your enemy during battle must have made a rather unusual or special person. Even the height restriction to get as many guns in the various decks made life quite unbearable for the crew – especially for a person such as myself of my height; one wonders about those who had to live there on a permanent basis.
Lord Nelson was possible the first of the great Admirals to sail the seas and his leadership and charismatic qualities were renowned throughout the Navy, believing that in order to get the most out of his crew, he also had to care for them as well as creating the Habit of Winning. There was also the need to be able to work under pressure at great speed, which meant that the crew could reload their cannons within 90 seconds – almost three times as fast as the opposition. Nelson was also a man who could summon great inner strength in times of great pressure and Villneuve, the French Commander believed that even though Nelson had died during the battle, there was a Nelson upon each and every one of the remaining fighting ships and he would have never been able to beat the English. Lord Nelson led and fought from the front leading his men, however he and his other commanders had already planned the whole event out beforehand. Of the 33 French/Spanish ships, only three were left intact and the English force was 27, but as in all wars and battles losses were severe in all camps especially as all canon were fired at each other at point blank range, resulting in shards and splinters ripping through human flesh, maiming many. The 200th celebration was not really a chance gloat on a previous war, but the opportunity of celebrating the creation of the world’s first nervous system of the seven seas. 95% of all trade whether imported or exported is sent by sea and without the International co-operation of all countries, started by this culmination of these battles, we now have the Freedom of the Oceans which are available to all and free for all people to trade without other countries believing their right to plunder – a lasting monument to the British Navy and the joining of all nations together.
FOOTNOTE
As a footnote, and I do apologise for my ignorance in protocol, HM Queen is the first reigning monarch to have ever dined aboard HMS Victory. The crew, during its fighting days would have numbered 800. There were about 80 casualties on the HMS Victory during the battle, including Nelson who had been shot by a sniper at about 1.15pm - he had been shot through the left shoulder. The battle commenced at 12 noon after all fleets had been stuck in the doldrums. The wind then took hold and the battle was fought in quite a swell. HM Queen lit the National Beacon at 6.45pm (BST), which allowed a further 1000+ beacons throughout England, Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and Spain to be lit. 24 Guests dined in Victory’s Great Cabin, including HM Queen. Medals were awarded for one day’s fighting at the Battle of Waterloo, however with 6 years fighting on the open seas, it was another 40 years before any of the sailors were awarded any medals, and they were not awarded posthumously so these medals are extremely rare.
Further details on this and a review of the whole year’s events are at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Website http://www.nmm.ac.uk/ as well as http://www.seabritain2005.com/
Nuremberg Railway Museum FIRE
Latest news about the Railway Museum in Nuremberg is that the building has had a severe fire in one corner of the collection - further news is still awaiting, however the museum is still open to the Public. For more information, go to this website and it will show you the awful damage. The Sinsheim Museum Tour in January is still at this moment going to the railway museum.
http://www.v160.de/phorum5/read.php?3,12442,12442#msg-12442
Spotlight
Vyncke Energietechniek n.v.
Earlier on this year, one place that we visited on a tour in conjunction with Old Glory magazine was a truly enterprising factory in Belgium - Vyncke Energietechniek n.v. I had heard the name but really didn’t have a clue as to what it did or what a history it had. The Chairman, Dirk Vyncke is a truly enthusiastic member of the board of directors, who has a real passion for the roots of the company, started in 1912 and has been delivering tailor-made solutions to Customers all over the world since that time. Even in their factory, they still have boiler shells of their Cornish and Lancashire type boilers in the entrance to their factory as well as a whole series of railway locomotives, boilers, semi-portable engines and a portable engine sitting in the workshop. Just that alone is fascinating, but the boilers that they build now have totally removed themselves from those original concepts from two centuries ago and are producing boilers that are able to burn local fuels, be energy efficient but above all, not be detrimental to the environment. Based upon the most advanced European technologies, they are continually striving to provide such solutions designed especially for the Customer’s local environment.
Based in the historic Flanders region of Belgium, they also have locations in Germany, Czech Republic, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada and Brazil, which to me is a very forward thinking company.
Their experience in combustion technology, boiler construction and automated management and control systems, I would hazard a guess that you can find a complete answer to Industrial Waste to Clean Energy solutions all under one roof: from design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and commissioning to training and after-sales service. Still a family concern and with four generations of experience, and with over 2,500 enthusiastic Customers worldwide in every continent, expect only the best solution for their customers! Many thanks to Dirk Vyncke for all of his help with our tour and the last vision of him was going off with three brand new customers in his motorcar to see a local installation.
Further details from: www.vyncke.com
From Colin Tyson – Editor of Old Glory Magazine www.oldglory.co.uk
Glasgow organ finds new home
THE gym in a former Glasgow bus garage will soon resound to the tune of a vintage cinema organ thanks to the Scottish Cinema Organ Trust.
For the gym at Bridgeton Garage, now home to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust’s bus collection, is having the 1936-built organ, originally installed at the Embassy Cinema in Shawlands, given pride of place to provide music for tea dances and as a backing for silent films.
Ian Macnaught, president of SCOT said: “We will have an organ within Glasgow itself at last. It will be put to good use when the former gym re-opens as an arts centre within the garage.” The trust has already restored two historic cinema organs - at Clydebank Town Hall and at Summerlee Heritage Park, Coatbridge http://www.scottishcinemaorgantrust.org.uk/
I asked a question in the last Update where recordings of the arranger Gustav Bruder could be found………….
From Björn Isebaert out there in Belgium
Hi Boz,
Just read your autumn special update #21.
There are plenty of recordings containing arrangements by Gustav Bruder, apart from the recent recording by Fleck of the WBS "Starkton" Organ, available at Waldkirch.
The first ones that come to my mind are the older LP recordings of the 107er Gebr. Bruder formerly owned by Jan van Dinteren, now at the Utrecht museum. Another one is the CD of the Gebr. Weber orchestrion now in the Waldkirch museum: this one contains a great selection of his arrangements.
Best wishes,
Björn
And from Rudy Nijs also in Belgium
Boz,
Someone asked about Gustav Bruder recordings: the KDV now has on sale a recording of a WBS’Starkton’ organ, featuring mostly arrangements done by Gustav Bruder. Maybe that person should contact the KDV, if not possible I will be more than glad to help him/her out.
How about more info about your organs?
With regards,
Rudy Nijs
Many thanks to both Björn and Rudy for coming back to me on this subject. The person was me who wanted to know as I am really appreciating different arrangers and their styles. http://www.waldkircher-orgelstiftung.de/gustav_bruder.html for further details however the words are only in German. It is always good to appreciate different people’s handiwork. As for the organs Rudy – well I have information but not hard evidence, however just for the record, the Louis Hooghuys will be 100 years old in 2007 and I will be 50. Methinks a party is in order for that celebration!
From Raymonde Grimmett
Hi Boz
Long time no see. But that is my fault as Rita is now very poorly and I must cared for here 24 hrs a day except when she gets respite care. During one of her stays in Respite, I was able to attend the Weert Kermis International Organ Festival along with Peter & Freda Trueman, Ken Juson and Roy Palmer, a most enjoyable weekend. I was also able to visit the new museum of Toon's and Cris at Hilvarenbeek, it should be great when finished. They are restoring a large Gavioli, which looks a little like the old Taj Mahal, now down under. Ladies and Gentlemen, the MOOS tour will be going to the Nederlands Boekorgel Centrum as well as the the next two places that Raymonde has mentioned, the Bakkersmolen and the Collection at Ulvenhout. Any people who want to go, please let us know as soon as you can as there are just a few places left and we may well be able to fit you onto it – usual address to contact tours@historyinharmony.com)
I visited Frans at the Bakkersmolen, and the Carousel is now finished and built up just outside the Bakehouse, but being midweek everything was closed except the cafe.
By the way, in the centre of Ulvenhout village, there is a good little cafe take-a-way and the price is right, as I eat there often.
Keep up the good work.
Raymonde Grimmett
Many thanks for that Raymonde and I am sure that all on this Update wish you and Rita well. Most who know Raymonde, will know that he works tirelessly to promote the preservation movement in all spheres and is also a full time carer.
From Jørgen Rosland in Denmark (or most likely at this moment in Germany!)
Hi Boz
Thank you for putting my letter on to your newsletter, and correcting all my grammar, I know it’s not to good, but I know you can read it. (that may well be true, but my Grammar is not necessarily the best either – and I have no excuse!)
I would just like to remind you of the dates of "Sammlerborse Rudesheim" in Germany in the days 5-6 Nov.05, I guess you know about it? Anyway" the gemutliche abend", Saturday evening at the museum 5th of Nov. is a must, if you had not been there, you should go and feel the "stimmung" and then there is the "stumpe-marked" in town of Bingen on Sunday from 10-16 hours, it’s fun, and maybe some good buy.
I’ll be there, on my way around collecting organs for costumers in Denmark. Maybe I’ll see you? You can get more information from the museum. tel.067 22 / 4 92 17
Regards Jørgen
Many thanks for that and most likely a good place to stop.
That’s it for the time being. Grateful 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 us 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 from the address on my mailing list. 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.
