With all the siscussion of the Blackpool Imhof & Mukle Orchestrion, it

is worth mentioning that Blackpool Tower had many musical attractions,

including their Mighty Wurlitzer that graces the Tower ballroom, an

instrument of which they are justifiably proud.



Seventeen years ago, saddened by the plight of the Orchestrion, crated as

Paul Camps eloquently noted "like the Ark of the Covenant," we approached

the then-owners of Blackpool Tower, First Leisure Group, with a plan to

return the piece to its original setting in the aquarium.  This was well

recieved by mid-management only to come to nothing when the  then board

realised it would involve a cost.  I suggested we look towards lottery

funding as a cultural project.  Apathy.



This was particularly sad, as we hold the Tower Symphonion, a fantastic

25-1/4 inch Sublime Harmonie machine, with mind-blowing base. It's complete

with all its papers proving its provenance, and original-period Tower

Company depositry stickers on upper and lower body.



This machine was situated on the first floor close to the ballroom entrance.

In addition, there was also a glass-cased French automaton of a Magician

perfoming a levitating-lady trick.  At the time of our attempt to reinstate

these pieces, this was also available to be returned to the Tower, as it

belonged to a former president of the MBSGB, sadly now long gone.



Around that time, I organised a Spring meeting for the MBSGB in Blackpool.

We had a good turnout, and one or two flew over from the US, including the

late Coulson Conn.  Naturally, we visited the Tower, and I really had to

stamp  my feet to get them to raise the Wurlitzer organ, with the organist

playing a Blackpool favourite, "Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside,"

while sixty-nine of us sat down to afternoon tea.



The Tower Symphonion has just had its case professionally and sympathetically

restored, and returned just this week.  Under the grime and varnish emerged

some fantastic choice walnut veneers, a cut above average.  In the near

future pictures and a video of the machine in action will be available to

view on the Silvertone Music Boxes website.  It would be nice if the Tower

could be persuaded to reinstate the Tower Symphonion.



On a more positive note, and of far more importance than any instrument,

anyone who has visited the Tower will no doubt remember the two giant

turtles in the aquarium that were kept in cruel conditions for many years.

I am pleased to report that one of them is still alive and well.  She still

lives in Blackpool, but has been moved to the sea life centre, where her

welfare is especially well guarded.  She resides in a far better, bigger,

and more interesting enviroment, with many other species of shark, fish,

anenomes, crustacea, and lighting second only to God's big bulb.  With

something like eight times her former surface area, she can really stretch

her flippers.  I took my grandaughter to see her two weeks ago, amazed at

her speed and grace.  I've never seen her looking so good and happy.  This

grand old lady, now approx 78 years of age, and weighing in at 26 stone,

deserves nothing less than this five-star treatment, having started life

at the Tower as a two-year-old.



Mark Singleton

http://www.silvertonemusicboxes.co.uk