I believe that this instrument is so important to the fairground
history of the UK that all efforts should be made by all who love
mechanical music to stop any sale which will mean that the instrument
is exported.  There is no doubt that this instrument would require an
export license, and that any person who believes as I do should contact
the relevant authority which is the Museums and Galleries Commission
in London.

It is sad to see one of only two large organs that are still in
showland families being sold.  Obviously the other organ is the
Magnificent Grand Organ, a Marenghi built in Paris and which adorned
the centre of Anderton and Rowlands Dragon Scenic Railway.  This 98-key
organ has the most wonderful brass trumpets and is totally original and
is still owned by the same family, the De Veys.  Let's hope this one is
safe.

Over the years many organs and mechanical musical instruments have been
lost to the States and other places from the UK, such as a beautiful
church barrel organ which is now in the museum in Utrecht, and the two
largest known Welte orchestrions to the States.  Although they have
found good homes, they are part of the social history of the UK and
should have remained here.

You may have guessed that I am a professional museum curator
specialising in social history and run a large municipal museum.

Let's all try and keep White's Gavioli in the UK.

Jonathan Holmes

 [ How, exactly, does a government decide which goods cannot
 [ be exported?  What is the social and legal basis for preserving
 [ historical items by constraining commerce?  I hope that it is
 [ justified better than the embargoes upon British beef and American
 [ peanuts!   -- Robbie