About the MOOS
An article written and published in the Vox Humana Magazine by Ron Leach
I have been asked to pen some thoughts on the early stirrings of our Society, on the time when it was just a minor element in the world of preservation and mechnaical music. As my memory goes and going it is ! I can picture the bar of the County Hotel at Canterbury one early evening. Three men sat there deep in conversation. Anyone listening to them would have wondered what they were talking about. Many odd terms were mentioned and some irritated remarks were occasionally made. It turned out to be our then unborn society, or at least three members, all founder members, chewing over how to get started. The three members were Brian Oram, Roger Burville and Ron Leach. All were organ owners and well and truly versed in the problems of owning and travelling these wonderful old machines.
As matters stood at that time, such people as us were catered for by two Societies. One, the Music Box Society of Great Britian was a learned set up who published a very fine magazine. It contained articles on such things as player pianos, street pianos, Polyphons, automata, music boxes and other interesting machines that produced music. It was the intention of the Society to deal with mechanical music and not just mechanical organs and they did this very ablely.
The other society, The Fair Organ Preservation Society, had a publication which limited itself to peoples travel to the continent, generally, when a detailed description of the local organs formed the basis of the article. Let it be understood that this lack of technical infomation was no fault of the editor. It is up to the members to provide him with material for publication. Thus we were faced with a choice which in fact was no choice.
Enter the scene - MOOS. Brian took over the problem of producing a news letter and held that position for a considerable time. His early efforts are a mine of information and as the Society grew his later efforts improved even on that standard. Each copy, and I have nearly a complete set, deserve to be Edited and published as a standard work for the organ owners of this world. The range of subjects is very impressive. For example taking one early copy at random there are articles on Imperial versus metric measure, percussion motors, Hanover Organ Festival, a report on the Grotian Steinweg piano factory, British Organ lorry restrictions, wood borers, and a number of other items. All this in one edition of our news letter.
That particular news letter was picked out of the pile that I have at random! Each article contained information of a practical nature for the organ owner and after the first two or three issues, it became obvious that this new Society was to be of much use to the organ owners. So it proved to be and I am sure that the vast majority of owners were pleased with what they found they had joined. Just to elaborate, one aspect that owners were at that time finding tiresome was the matter of vehicle licensing and testing. This matter had many of us confused and irritated by the interpretation being put upon the regulations by officials. Low and behold we found we had a guardian angel in the form of one member who had the right connections and he sorted our problem in no time. It appeared that whatever our problem be it vehicle tax, copyright protection or whatever we could call upon one of our members to help us out of trouble. Much of this was of course due to the style of the news letter which demonstrated to any outsider that we were not a 'bunch of blokes out for a bit of fun'. Reading through some old copies I am surprised at the amount of talent in many fields our members present. Long may it last.
It is impossible in a short piece such as this to pay tribute to all the hard work put in by so many to make this Society a success. That it has happened is a tribute to them all. Having got this far we must not let it slip so keep it up all of you.
I have been asked to pen some thoughts on the early stirrings of our Society, on the time when it was just a minor element in the world of preservation and mechnaical music. As my memory goes and going it is ! I can picture the bar of the County Hotel at Canterbury one early evening. Three men sat there deep in conversation. Anyone listening to them would have wondered what they were talking about. Many odd terms were mentioned and some irritated remarks were occasionally made. It turned out to be our then unborn society, or at least three members, all founder members, chewing over how to get started. The three members were Brian Oram, Roger Burville and Ron Leach. All were organ owners and well and truly versed in the problems of owning and travelling these wonderful old machines.
As matters stood at that time, such people as us were catered for by two Societies. One, the Music Box Society of Great Britian was a learned set up who published a very fine magazine. It contained articles on such things as player pianos, street pianos, Polyphons, automata, music boxes and other interesting machines that produced music. It was the intention of the Society to deal with mechanical music and not just mechanical organs and they did this very ablely.
The other society, The Fair Organ Preservation Society, had a publication which limited itself to peoples travel to the continent, generally, when a detailed description of the local organs formed the basis of the article. Let it be understood that this lack of technical infomation was no fault of the editor. It is up to the members to provide him with material for publication. Thus we were faced with a choice which in fact was no choice.
Enter the scene - MOOS. Brian took over the problem of producing a news letter and held that position for a considerable time. His early efforts are a mine of information and as the Society grew his later efforts improved even on that standard. Each copy, and I have nearly a complete set, deserve to be Edited and published as a standard work for the organ owners of this world. The range of subjects is very impressive. For example taking one early copy at random there are articles on Imperial versus metric measure, percussion motors, Hanover Organ Festival, a report on the Grotian Steinweg piano factory, British Organ lorry restrictions, wood borers, and a number of other items. All this in one edition of our news letter.
That particular news letter was picked out of the pile that I have at random! Each article contained information of a practical nature for the organ owner and after the first two or three issues, it became obvious that this new Society was to be of much use to the organ owners. So it proved to be and I am sure that the vast majority of owners were pleased with what they found they had joined. Just to elaborate, one aspect that owners were at that time finding tiresome was the matter of vehicle licensing and testing. This matter had many of us confused and irritated by the interpretation being put upon the regulations by officials. Low and behold we found we had a guardian angel in the form of one member who had the right connections and he sorted our problem in no time. It appeared that whatever our problem be it vehicle tax, copyright protection or whatever we could call upon one of our members to help us out of trouble. Much of this was of course due to the style of the news letter which demonstrated to any outsider that we were not a 'bunch of blokes out for a bit of fun'. Reading through some old copies I am surprised at the amount of talent in many fields our members present. Long may it last.
It is impossible in a short piece such as this to pay tribute to all the hard work put in by so many to make this Society a success. That it has happened is a tribute to them all. Having got this far we must not let it slip so keep it up all of you.
Meet the MOOS
Meet the committee of the Mechanical Organ Owners Society and find out all about them...
Roger Burville
President
My interest started in the late 1950s with Forrestís Gavioli. I became good friends with the family, who introduced me to David Barlow who was about to acquire 'De Kluisberg'.
David, together with Dave and Edith Hopper and myself formed the organ crew in those days.
The interest continues to this day!
David, together with Dave and Edith Hopper and myself formed the organ crew in those days.
The interest continues to this day!
IRENE THOMAS
Vice President
My interest started in the early days of preservation at Birmingham Newhall Street. I was soon attending other steam rallies, and became both a columnist for 'World's Fair' and Secretary of the Fair Organ Preservation Society, organising coach trips to Thursford and other places of interest.
My late husband Les and I were founder members of the MOOS, and for many years we were a familiar sight at events with the 'Irene's Records' stand, offering a variety of interesting recordings for sale, together with MOOS merchandise.
My late husband Les and I were founder members of the MOOS, and for many years we were a familiar sight at events with the 'Irene's Records' stand, offering a variety of interesting recordings for sale, together with MOOS merchandise.
ROBERT WICHALL
Chairman
My interest in Fair Organs started when I was about 8 years old way back in 1977. My parents had taken me to visit the Thursford collection. I remember walking in and seeing the giant 98 Key Marenghi with its beautiful proscenium. From that moment I was hooked!
At 13 I met George Cushing Jnr who encouraged me to help in the operation of his 68 Key Bursens Street Organ, somthing I still enjoy doing these days when time permits. In November 2002 I was very lucky to be able to aquire from France an original 47 Key Marenghi Fair Organ.
AUSTIN BURGESS
Vice Chairman/ Publicity
In the late 1950's my mother took my sister and myself to Norwich Fair, a cold wet winters day. But the magic of the sound has remained with me to this day.
The kindness of people like George Cushing and Arthur Mason who were happy to play these organs and to share them with the public made a lasting impression.
MARK JEFFORD
Membership Secretary
more about Mark coming soon...
GUS ORCHARD
Treasurer
More about Gus soon...
PETER CRAIG
Tours & Industry Liason
Having decided that it would be a good idea to own a mechanical organ at the age of five, it also seemed a good idea, upon first acquiring one some seventeen years later, that I should join an organisation calling itself 'The Mechanical Organ Owners Society'. Subsequently press-ganged into serving a period as Chairman, I am currently Tours and Industry Liaison Officer, a role which I very much enjoy as it combines my interests of travel and mechanical organs.
Within the world of mechanical music, my special interest is Belgian dance organs, their design, history and music. As time permits, I am assembling a library of repaired and re-cut music for the organs in my own collection.
As a member of a group with a minority interest, I think it is very important that we share our skills and knowledge with others and to this end, I am always happy to help members with regard to my own specialist areas, and equally, learn from others about the many aspects I don't understand.
SHANE SEAGRAVE
Magazine Editor
I was bitten by the bug aged 9 after hearing a small fair organ playing in a roundabout at my home town of Weymouth.
Since then, my passion for all types of mechanical musical instruments has taken me far and wide. A typical mad example saw me, on the spur of a crazy moment in November 1976, riding my small motorbike the 362 miles to Utrecht in Holland, just to wallow in the sights and sounds of the Netherlands National Music Boxes To Street Organ Museum. It was a freezing cold trip but the warmth of the welcome I received and the memories of that visit made it worth every uncomfortable mile!
Although a great fan of their music, I have a passionate interest in the history of the mechanical organ makers, their catalogues and the designers and carvers of the ornate facades. I have been Editor of Vox Humana since 2005.
Since then, my passion for all types of mechanical musical instruments has taken me far and wide. A typical mad example saw me, on the spur of a crazy moment in November 1976, riding my small motorbike the 362 miles to Utrecht in Holland, just to wallow in the sights and sounds of the Netherlands National Music Boxes To Street Organ Museum. It was a freezing cold trip but the warmth of the welcome I received and the memories of that visit made it worth every uncomfortable mile!
Although a great fan of their music, I have a passionate interest in the history of the mechanical organ makers, their catalogues and the designers and carvers of the ornate facades. I have been Editor of Vox Humana since 2005.
DAVID DINGWALL
Assistant Editor
My interest in organs began at the age of four when I came across a medium sized street organ playing in Peterborough city centre whilst on a family shopping trip. This encounter started off a life long love affair with mechanical organs!
In 1996, I made my first visit to nearby St. Albans Organ Theatre (then St. Albans Organ Museum) and loved it so much that Iíve been going back ever since. I have been a helper there since 2001 and still feel very privileged at being allowed to do this and have loved every second of it! In 2005, I was able to purchase a 25 keyless Perlee street organ formerly owned by the late Harold Jennings which was one of the first small hand turned organs to be imported into the U.K.
I have been a member of MOOS since the end of 2000 and it was in May 2008 that I decided to enquire about the post of assistant editor to which I was duly accepted for the position.
JAMES DUNDON
Webmaster
I'm 22 years old, Cornish born and bred. I used to attend steam rallies with my parents from pushchair age. They have owned a 1972 MGB Roadster from new, but all I wanted to do was sit in front of the Fair Organs all day, and was very vocal if anyone tried to move me away from them.
Now, I own a 31 Keyless Fairground Organ. I brought it in 2003 as a 'box of noise' from Sussex, since then, I spend my spare time in the workshop undertaking new projects or trying out new ideas. Sadly though, I donít have a lot of spare time! I am 'on air' 6 days a week as a radio presenter on 'Pirate FM'.
I was approached about becoming the webmaster in 2008, now I aim to update the website weekly with new content, giving the members even more value for money and attracting a younger audience to the preservation movement.
GARY HALL
Scottish & Northern Representative
I have been interested in music of all kinds from an early age and remember standing in front of the big organs at Pickering Steam Rally when I was a child. I progressed through brass banding as a teenager, both teaching music theory & practical and conducting as well as playing baritone & trombone.
In my 20's I was involved in running a local natural history youth club and it wasn't until a visit to Thursford in 2002 that I decided to visit a steam rally again. After doing a number of shows I decided it would be cheaper to exhibit so decided to get an organ. Having looked around I finally decided to buy a Pell modular 31 note and build my own. 'Swinging Sisters' was the result and it currently does about 20 events a year in Yorkshire, Midlands, North Wales and Northern England. I have since added 3 Trueman organs to my collection and am more than happy to let children have a go at hand turning them when I am out at events.
Want to join the committee?
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