Mechanical Music Collection in U.K.
By Bob Essex
A few days ago I noticed a mention of Mechanical Music Museums in Europe, and in particular, the museum in Brentford, Middlesex, England. Sadly, I deleted the file by mistake, but it prompts this reply from here in Warwickshire in the heart of England.
For our American cousins who "cross the pond" to visit the UK, and indeed those others who would travel from anywhere in the world to visit us, let me recommend a place of interest.
Near to Shakespeare's home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and also near Warwick with its famous mediaeval castle, is Ashorne Hall. Set deep in the countryside, it houses Graham Whitehead's collection of all sorts of mechanical music. (For those who don't know him, Graham Whitehead also edits the "Music Box", the journal of the Musical Box Society of Great Britain.)
There are tours of the collection, which is spread over three rooms, and a re-created theatre in the style of early cinema, where the mighty Compton cinema organ sings under the wondrous fingers of Craig Boswell, the resident organist, and where early films can be shown.
The collection includes a large Mortier dance organ, a Decap "Robot" organ and another Decap dance organ. There are various orchestrions and cafe pianos by Hupfeld, Gebr. Weber, Popper, and so on, a fine Hupfeld Phono- liszt with 3 violins and a Wurlitzer Photoplayer. There is a collection of musical boxes, Polyphons and organettes, barrel organs and fine English barrel pianos, musical clocks and automata. It is not a museum as such, but a working collection for all to see and hear.
It is open on various days but on Sunday afternoons you will find me conducting tours of the instruments, as part of the entertainment. No-one leaves without a big smile and a bucket of nostalgia! If all this is not enough, there a 12.5-inch guage steam railway running around the grounds. If you are quick you bag the first-class carriage.
Ashorne Hall is only one of several places in England for the Mechanical Music Enthusiast to visit. They all are different. They are all very worthwhile.
Thanks, Robbie, for the excellent work you and Jody put in producing this Digest.
I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Bob Essex
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(Message sent Thu 19 Dec 1996, 19:26:13 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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