I can confirm Doug Henderson's report that the "Moeller Travelling
Organ" was installed in the Glendale, California, Civic Auditorium.
Many years ago I paid a visit to the Nethercutt Tower of Beauty
('San Sylmar') in company with the late Frank Holland, founder of the
(then) British Piano Museum. While waiting in the basement, admiring
the Rolls Royces while waiting for the tour to begin, my attention was
caught by a huge pile of parts, clearly a dismantled theatre organ.
Something about it was familiar but I couldn't place just what it was.
I drew it to Frank's attention and he had exactly the same reaction.
Later, when we were taken to the restoration department, the mystery
was solved when we spotted the organ console. This was indeed the
one-time Reginald Foort travelling Moeller. Its full story has been
documented including its wartime experience as a broadcasting organ
for the BBC.
The distinguishing feature that had puzzled Frank and me was a series
of wooden frames fixed to the chests to protect the pipework while the
organ was being transported. The organ had served time in a pizza
place, as was the fashion at the time, and was at San Sylmar being
refurbished for installation at Glendale.
Incidentally, also on that tour with us were Ken and Sandy Goldman,
now among leading collectors, then a young couple looking rather
goggle-eyed at the major collections. Years later, visiting their
great collection in Massachusetts, Kenny called me aside: "Just
look what happens," he said, "when we go out to dinner with people
like you!"
Michael Woolf
New Zealand
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