Hi,  I bought last year a Wilhelm Bruder and Sons Starkton 41-keyless
organ.  With the organ came only nine books of music, all factory
arrangements.  I have been fortunate to source some music via Dean
Organs and Andrew Pilmer in the UK, and recently have access to a
number of original books which have been offered to me for copying.

The books are all old and original factory arrangements by Eugene
Bruder or Gustav Bruder.  I have asked around but I am unaware of
anybody in Europe who could scan such a book and either supply a
digital file which I can get cut, or scan and provide me with a copy
of the book.  I have written to a number of well-known organ builders
and music suppliers in the UK about supplying music and have been very
surprised to not have even received a reply!

Work is now progressing on the organ and I would be interested to hear
from any collector who has one of these organs, anyone who has music,
anyone who can cut music (that I have not already commissioned music
from).  I also need someone to mend some music and in some cases insert
new pieces of card, as the books have no lead-in or finishing
cardboard.

The scale is unusual as, unlike most Wilhelm Bruder products, it is
not scrambled and therefore you can actually visually read the music.
I understand from Andrew Pilmer and others that the scale was used on
at least two versions of the organ.  A version with only flue pipes and
no reeds and the normal Starkton organ, illustrated in Pilmer's book,
has Violins, a three rank Mixture and stopped flutes on the 17-note
Melody.  On the 15-note Accompaniment is 1 rank of Cello pipes and a
rank of Trumpets.  The bass comprises 5 Trombones.  There is a bass
drum and cymbal operating from one hole and a snare drum working from
two holes, although I understand some organs use only one hole to
operate the snare drum.

The scale does have the usual Piano and Forte holes but it seems that,
although they are punched in the music, that they were not used as 
I have yet to find a 40/41 key organ with this scale.

1 = Bass F
2 = Key Frame key
3-6 = Bass G A C D
7 = Bass drum and cymbal
8 -11 = Accompaniment g a a# b
12 - 13 = Snare drum
14 -24 = Accompaniment c c# d e f f# g g# a a# b
25 - 41 = Melody c c# d e f f# g a a# b c c# d e f f# g
42 = Forte register (not used)
43 - 44 = not used
45 = Piano register (not used)

The organ has a serial number of 3790 so I would also like to know if
anyone has an instrument with a serial number close to mine and that
has been able to date it.

I am also looking to find out about its working life and who owned it.
I purchased it from Richard Dean of Dean Organs in the UK; he acted as
agent for me and the organ I understand came from the estate of a
German collector.  I understand from Richard that the family of the
collector have no information so any pointers would be helpful.

I have available a few photographs of the organ before restoration work
started.

Jonathan Holmes
Penzance, UK