The Organ gets an Airing

"The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things."

Not of sealing wax, but of how to get the organ out of the front (music) room, through the house, out the back door, down the side 'entry' across the front and into the car!

The reason for this unusual route, is that I have about eight steep steps from the front door!

The organ has its own 'playing' trolley which puts it at the right height but is not ideal for moving it around in the house. Why? It is too wide and won't go through the doors on its wheels.

I therefore have made a lower and narrower one to get the organ on this devious route.

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It is based on one I bought but with a wider base added and small strips to stop the organ sliding about.

Will it fit?

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Yes....."perfeck".

Now out to the garden.

I have just bought this 'cracking' tent from fellow organ grinder, Dennis, who has opted for a new smaller and lighter one, but this one should suit me down to the ground.

Well......there she is, out in the fresh air for the first time!

I had to give it a good cranking to see how it sounded. I have been told they sound quieter in open air compared to being indoors.

I was very pleased.....the old girl sounded great (to me.....I can't speak for the neighbours).

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And a closer look, now that I have the Henley painting in place.

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And a chance to see the plain(er) front in place.

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And its picture......this time of a pump mill on the Norfolk Broads.

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You will probably need to click on the pictures if you want a closer look.

But please......not too close!

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Automatic Punching

For years I've been arranging tunes, marking the position of the holes on the back and then punching them out manually. Oh, for an automatic system!

Well, a semi-automatic system actually. You see you still need a human at the front end to do the arranging.

John, a fellow organ builder, who lives just round the corner, has taken this step to automation and built himself a Midi controlled punch.

I arrange the tunes using Cakewalk (Midi software), e-mail them to John and "Bob's your Uncle".

I have just sent him over Mozart's 'A la Turca' and I am waiting to see what the punch thinks of this?

It can't punch 'half holes' so the software seems to round it up to the next whole number. OK for long notes but not so good on short quick runs.....we shall see.

Here's a set of pictures of John's punch....

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Organ Festival - Switzerland July 2009

Three is better than one?

Well, Three Raffins playing "ABBA - Mamma Mia" for my friend John.

Organs at Shabbington

It turned out a lovely day for Shabbington Rally. Of course I could have taken dozens of photos, but I have chosen to show just a few here which I found unusual. Of course there were rows and rows of vintage cars, tractors and motorbikes in addition to the traction engines.

However it was this amazing Showman's Living Van that caught my eye. (Note: a left click on any of my photos should enlarge them to show more detail.)

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There was so much decoration on every single part....hardly anywhere was left untouched.

However, the surprise here was to be found inside......

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A small organ. I couldn't get a close look but with 16 melody pipes up front, it seemed a rather unusual one. Most organs show a odd number of pipes, 11 or 13 etc. ...the largest in the centre and an equal number either side. But this little fellow had 8 on one side and 7 on the other side of the central pipe.

It is not part of the original van as it was used for living in. I expect the little organ was rescued from the centre of some fairground ride.

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I took this last photo of the Bruder Organ because the scroll work is very similar to the decoration on mine and I was looking for some ideas for colour schemes etc.

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