-- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD --

"Sharahazad" was originally thought to have been built in 1901, however
that centenary has been and gone, so I think that it was actually built
in 1907 -- only 5 years to go!  I've celebrated many centenaries with
this organ as the numbering system is quite difficult to understand as
the records were jumbled up during WW2.  However, the number is 530 on
the casework and this does correspond to what is itemized.

The instrument is a very clear sounding organ.  No unnecessary pipework
or useless embellishments musically.  It is perfectly balanced and has
the large Louis Hooghuys Art Nouveau facade that is generally associated
with this kind of instrument.

Thought by many as the Rolls Royce of fairground organs, the background
of the Hooghuys company stemmed from a church organ building business,
and much of that kind of practice was put into the organ, hence the
sweet sound and the exactness of the action and playing of music.  In
fact, it is quite a remarkable piece of engineering as well.  All parts
of the organ can be removed in situ from the case, apart from the
crankshaft which necessitates the splitting of the case.

Musically, it has a piano register which continually plays, a forte
register which pulls in reeds (Clarinets) and a loud Piccolo on the top
end.  On the bottom end is the usual Bourdon bass as well as a Trombone
register.  The Trombone will play a 2 mm slot and repeat it if you wish.
I haven't got a smaller punch!  It would play it, though.  Remarkable
when you think that Louis Hooghuys developed his keyed system not even
one year after Gavioli had developed his idea, and this was superior to
any other type.

The organ can play any music; however, I have drawn the line at Rap due
to me not liking the sound, but jazz, blues plus the old essentials of
march and waltz are playable.  Classics are also the order of the day,
with plenty of Bach, Mozart and Verdi as well as a few others.  Have
had music done by Prinsen, Schollaert, Hooghuys (Charles, Edvard, Marc
and Romain), Oram (snr) myself and Jan Kees de Ruijter (who really has
the measure of this instrument).

There are, I believe, two in USA, two in Belgium (de Witte Merel and
l'Alexandre), a possible one in France as well as mine, "Sharahazad".
I believe too that mine works on a lower pressure, 7-1/2", as opposed
to the others which function at the higher pressure of 8".  Comparing
it to other ones that I have heard, the lower pressure improves the
performance and sound.

The instrument has been in our family since 1966 and has lived in the
Thyames Trader lorry since that time, it being built in 1962.  The old
springing does nothing for the organ so I have to drive it around the
potholes that have appeared since this present government took over
power.

It also goes to shows on the odd occasion with an Orton & Spooner
showmans' road and rail carriage that was built in 1896.  It is now on
pneumatic tyres, but originally it was on wooden wheels and would be
pulled to the rail head with horses and then loaded onto the flat
wagon.  The height was low so that it would go under any low bridge
without the use of a sunken rail wagon.

Boz Oram

 [ "Vox Humana", the journal of the Mechanical Organ Owners' Society
 [ (MOOS), often features interesting articles by Boz.  For information
 [ about MOOS contact Peter Craig  <petercraig1@ukonline.co.uk> or MOOS
 [ Membership Secretary Mark Jefford <mark@nle.demon.co.uk>   -- Robbie