Hi there,  Last weekend, I was able to buy some organ records
(some of Hooghuys organs, and a lot of others), and between them,
there is a record on Decca-Ecclipse of a 84-key Van der Beeck organ:
"Marching and waltzing with the Van der Beeck-organ".

The information on the sleeve isn't enough for me to say what firm
built the organ.  It says that it was built in 1923 in Belgium, then
that it was rebuilt by Pierre Verbeeck, and in the late 60's, it was
owned by a certain Mr. Beardow.  The record was made in 1969.  The
sleeve shows a set of gallopers with the organ just visible from the
left.

There are seven tracks on it:

  Action front (= Klar zum Gefecht, march from Blankenburg),
  Valse nuptiale,
  Old Comrades,
  Panache range,
  Mon reve,
  Coeur de France,
  Goodnight waltz.

All arrangements, except for Old Comrades and the Goodnight waltz, were
certainly originally made by August Schollaert, but I believe they are
recut.  But the fact that Mr. Schollaert made these books makes me
suppose that this organ was originally a Van der Beken organ.

Julius Vanderbeken was employed in the Hooghuys-factory in Belgium, and
for some time also was responsible for 'assembling' the Hooghuys organs
in England which were ordered by Chiappa.  I know for certain that
there have been at least two Van der Beken organs in England till 1965,
but ...

Could anyone give me some more information ?  Thanks !

Bjorn Isebaert
bjorn.isebaert@rug.ac.be
Ghent, Belgium