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MMD > Archives > February 2012 > 2012.02.26 > 05Prev  Next


Unknown 46-key Fair Organ Restored
By Rob Barker

Please help identify this organ!

Hello everyone,  a fair organ was bought as a basket case about
twelve years ago from a bereavement sale in Leicester, UK.  It played
at one time from a scale similar to 46-key Gavioli but with six bass
notes and two registers (44-key?).  There is a small quantity of music
with it, some from Arthur Prinsen.  The bass and percussion is at the
hinge end of the keyframe with the top notes at the open end.

John Page & Judith Howard have done some work already on the
planning, keyframe, pipework and bellows.  I have continued the job
of restoration and (re)assembly.  It was decided to rebuild it to the
standard 46/48-keyless format as the keyframe was so rough (some of it
being held together by good old Meccano parts!) and standard music is
more readily available.  The top board of the reservoir has a Gavioli
sticker on it with what looks like blank French invoices on the underside
for sealing.  The melody chest is Mortier.  The brass shelled drums
were made in Germany in the 1920s.

Maybe someone will recognise the front?  Some of it is home made but
the main section is from some sort of organ.  I have tracked down the
artist, now retired, who painted artwork on the front.  He remembers
doing the work but not the name of the owner or when he did it,
although it would have been decorated more than 25 years ago.  The
mahogany veneered case has been crudely cut down in depth and has two
removable panels each end.  The drum wings are home made, I think.

The organ is now playing well.  It will shortly be finished and handed
back to the owner who has never heard it play.  Any help in tracing
it's history would be greatly appreciated.  Some photos are at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corrianderman/sets/72157625423850010/show/ 

Many thanks,
Rob Barker
http://www.robbarkerorgans.co.uk/ 


(Message sent Sun 26 Feb 2012, 20:59:37 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  46-key, Fair, Organ, Restored, Unknown

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