WELCOME TO MOOS.ORG.UK
We welcome you to moos.org.uk, the online home of The Mechanical Organ Owners Society.
The object of the MOOS is to protect and help the interests of mechanical organ owners and operators. Formed in 1976 by a small group of owners who felt that their interests were not being considered by those in authority.
The Society endeavours to reconcile the problems relating to Government and other official bodies covering all aspects relating to organ owners and the playing of mechanical organs.
THE MOOS NEWSWIRE
The Mechanical organ Owners Society is proud to keep our online visitors up to date with the latest organ news.
Our Webmaster James Dundon and assistant editor David Dingwall have the latest stories...
MOOS TOUR 2009 ANNOUNCED!
As the season draws to a close here in Blighty there's no better way to lay down a fine store of organ memories to survive the winter months than to take a trip on the annual Mechanical Organ Owners Society Organ Tour.
You do not need to be a society member to join in on what will be another pipe-packed package of mechanical musical mellifluence!
On this tour we visit some of the very best of mechanical organ collections, including those to be found at Haarlem, Helmond and Utrecht, where we will enjoy listening to the superb instruments at length.
Click 'Tour' on the tabs at the top of the page for more details
You do not need to be a society member to join in on what will be another pipe-packed package of mechanical musical mellifluence!
On this tour we visit some of the very best of mechanical organ collections, including those to be found at Haarlem, Helmond and Utrecht, where we will enjoy listening to the superb instruments at length.
Click 'Tour' on the tabs at the top of the page for more details
A NEW 'WHATS ON' WEBSITE
A new website dedicated to events where you can see Mechanical Music has been launched.
Young and enthusiastic Jake Preston has created the site in hope it will attract a wide audience to organs, and also serve the community of mechanical music enthusiasts with news on events that are local to them.
The Site is named MOOAA (Mechanical Organs Out and About). Go to http://mooaa.weebly.com/
Young and enthusiastic Jake Preston has created the site in hope it will attract a wide audience to organs, and also serve the community of mechanical music enthusiasts with news on events that are local to them.
The Site is named MOOAA (Mechanical Organs Out and About). Go to http://mooaa.weebly.com/
ALBERT DECAP 1931-2009
The organ world has lost a huge personality who has made a significant impact on the world of mechanical music, most notably with dance organs.
Albert Decap had been arranging for mechanical organs since the early 1950s and continued for many years before ill health stopped him from working only two years ago. He was an immensely respected and gifted arranger who really knew how to make organs come to life. He was able to make extremely good dance music whatever the rhythm and no good dance organ could go without his arrangements.
His music was inspirational to those of us who love the true sound of the dance organ. May he rest in peace and his legacy will never be forgotten.
Albert Decap had been arranging for mechanical organs since the early 1950s and continued for many years before ill health stopped him from working only two years ago. He was an immensely respected and gifted arranger who really knew how to make organs come to life. He was able to make extremely good dance music whatever the rhythm and no good dance organ could go without his arrangements.
His music was inspirational to those of us who love the true sound of the dance organ. May he rest in peace and his legacy will never be forgotten.
A FIRE IN HAARLEM
During the evening of Sunday 1st March, the organ museum at Haarlem in the Netherlands luckily avoided serious damage from a severe fire that started in a warehouse adjacent to the building containing the organ collection.
The fire alarms in the museum were triggered and it was thanks to these that the fire brigade were able to arrive just in time and put the blaze out. It took several hours for the smoke to clear the building.
Thankfully no serious damage was caused to the organs. However, the fire left a layer of oily residue over all of the mechanical organs and the Compton theatre organ. The organs have needed to be dismantled to remove the smoke residue from inside the cases.
For the latest information regarding the collection, you can go to their website at www.draaiorgelmuseum.org
The fire alarms in the museum were triggered and it was thanks to these that the fire brigade were able to arrive just in time and put the blaze out. It took several hours for the smoke to clear the building.
Thankfully no serious damage was caused to the organs. However, the fire left a layer of oily residue over all of the mechanical organs and the Compton theatre organ. The organs have needed to be dismantled to remove the smoke residue from inside the cases.
For the latest information regarding the collection, you can go to their website at www.draaiorgelmuseum.org
ENGLAND'S PRIDE BACK HOME
October 2008 saw the welcome return of the 121 key Decap dance organ 'England's Pride', formerly known as 'De Nethe' to the St.Albans Organ Theatre after a major rebuild by Roger Mostmans of the Gebroeders Decap factory in Antwerp in Belgium.
The organ carries the serial number 1117 and was completed on 1st April 1939. It was one of twenty 121 key organs to be built by the Decap family and this organ was built for the Teugels family who ran a dance organ rental business.
'England's Pride' has been a prominent part of the St.Albans Organ Theatre ever since it came to St.Albans in 1966. In the last few years the organ has been in need of a major overhaul. In order for this to proceed, two fund raising appeals were launched and many donations were made by visitors whilst visiting the theatre. The chance to send the organ back to the very factory where it was first built in Antwerp was not to be missed. The centre case was sent to the factory in October 2007 with the four side cases being sent out in March 2008. The organ was then ready to come back to St.Albans following its extensive restoration.
Two special events were organised to celebrate the organís return to St.Albans, one being for benefactors towards the restoration project and the second open to anyone and was organised as a fundraising event. In February 2009, renowned cinema organist Donald Mackenzie gave a concert, accompanying silent films to a sell out audience. All the proceeds from this event were to be donated towards the 121 key Decap restoration appeal. Visitors to the organ theatre will be able to hear the organ on Sunday afternoons when the collection is open between 2pm and 4.30pm. For more information, you can visit the Organ Theatre's website at www.stalbansorgantheatre.org.uk
The organ carries the serial number 1117 and was completed on 1st April 1939. It was one of twenty 121 key organs to be built by the Decap family and this organ was built for the Teugels family who ran a dance organ rental business.
'England's Pride' has been a prominent part of the St.Albans Organ Theatre ever since it came to St.Albans in 1966. In the last few years the organ has been in need of a major overhaul. In order for this to proceed, two fund raising appeals were launched and many donations were made by visitors whilst visiting the theatre. The chance to send the organ back to the very factory where it was first built in Antwerp was not to be missed. The centre case was sent to the factory in October 2007 with the four side cases being sent out in March 2008. The organ was then ready to come back to St.Albans following its extensive restoration.
Two special events were organised to celebrate the organís return to St.Albans, one being for benefactors towards the restoration project and the second open to anyone and was organised as a fundraising event. In February 2009, renowned cinema organist Donald Mackenzie gave a concert, accompanying silent films to a sell out audience. All the proceeds from this event were to be donated towards the 121 key Decap restoration appeal. Visitors to the organ theatre will be able to hear the organ on Sunday afternoons when the collection is open between 2pm and 4.30pm. For more information, you can visit the Organ Theatre's website at www.stalbansorgantheatre.org.uk
ALBERT CHIAPPA 1935 - 2008
Victor Chiappa's only son,Albert lost his battle to cancer on December 9th 2008. Although he did not follow his famous father into the world of mechanical organs Albert still retained an interest in the business.
Following the death of Victor, in 1993, Albert was reluctant to disperse the 125 year-old firm's assets and continued running Chiappa Ltd, of which he was co-director during the latter years of his father's tenure as head of the company. Thus organ owners worldwide were still able to buy superb arrangements for the popular French scales (46/48, 65, 89 & 98-keys) from their unequalled library of music stencils.
Following the death of Victor, in 1993, Albert was reluctant to disperse the 125 year-old firm's assets and continued running Chiappa Ltd, of which he was co-director during the latter years of his father's tenure as head of the company. Thus organ owners worldwide were still able to buy superb arrangements for the popular French scales (46/48, 65, 89 & 98-keys) from their unequalled library of music stencils.
LADY HAMILTON IS STILL MISSING
There can be few fair organ enthusiasts in Britain who have not heard about the shock disappearance of the 89 Key Marenghi Lady Hamilton. Mounted on the back on a 1966 Bedford TK Truck (reg no URX 753G).
This historic and much-loved organ vanished sometime between 10am and 6pm on Friday 29th June 2007, from its owner Mike Priestner's remote farmstead home at Dunham Massey, Cheshire.
This historic and much-loved organ vanished sometime between 10am and 6pm on Friday 29th June 2007, from its owner Mike Priestner's remote farmstead home at Dunham Massey, Cheshire.