I have acquired a Dutch Street Organ made by H. Roos of the Netherlands.
It is a real basket case, being perforated with countless termite and
beetle holes, missing pipes, unplayable condition and a damaged facade.
Stephen Goodman, of Fresno, California, is restoring the organ body and
I am working on the facade. We are gambling on turning out a gem.
I am hoping that one of our friends in the Netherlands can identify the
organ and provide some background information. It has a unusual square
facade, with carvings done in blues, with three Dutch pictures on the
lower part of the facade.
The organ has no name, but H. Roos is stenciled on a red name board at
the top. It is a book organ with 57 keys and five registers. It also
has a highly unusual scale. If the scale book that came with the organ
is the right one, in the Bass and the Melody, the notes are in ascending
order, but in the Accompaniment and Counter Melody the notes are in
descending order.
I have communicated with Tom Meijer and he has no knowledge of the
organ. I have a couple of pictures of the organ which I can email to
anyone that requests it. If anyone has an address for either J. Roos
or H. Roos, I would appreciate that
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Jim Westcott
Lompoc, CA USA
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