98 key Gavioli fairground organ - Thursford Steam Gala 2023

[@LonesomeGeorge76]

Old Comrads I used to listen to as a young boy on an old Victoria on 78 speed porcelain records.

[@sousafan100]

I like the high school cadets best ha - by Sousa of course

[@PeterMackett]

The glockenspiel only seems to have one note working!

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Lol, I counted about 4 but even then it was hardly working! In my opinion it should just be taken off (and the whole organ turned back into an 89 key barrel/book organ...

[@HarryYT22]

@@MechanicalMusicTravels I noticed that too looks awkward with it being right at the bottom.

[@markandrewbailey3965]

Looks like it has 9 trombone pipes. Aren't there only 8 on this scale?

[@karlplastow9185]

The paintwork is looking shabby,would look better if the white areas were touched up,playing a bit better but sounds a bit tired

[@christiantedesco1477]

It would look better as a barrel organ with the baritone box, cellos, and extra trombones gone!

[@RWBHere]

And it needs returning, Karl! It's sounding awful.

[@HarryYT22]

Is it just me or the organ been worked on a little? It sounds somewhat better but still not the best.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

I think it sounds more or less the same as the last time I heard it at Bedford last September. However at the Thursford steam gala last year it sounded absolutely terrible!

[@RaggyAl1971]

Poor thing needs tuning and the glock looking at.

[@epkinema5548]

Did Gavioli make a 98 Key instrument ?

[@RaggyAl1971]

Yes but most of them were cut down instruments that were previously 110 or 112 key size organs from Bioscope shows.This organ was never a 98 key organ anyway,it was enlarged in preservation to 98 key.

[@epkinema5548]

@@RaggyAl1971 but not this one ?

[@RaggyAl1971]

@@epkinema5548 This organ was built as an 84 key pin barrel operated organ,it was enlarged to 98 key and converted to folding cardboard book music operation in the mid 1980s when it was under going a rebuild.

[@RWBHere]

@@epkinema5548 This ex-84-key barrel organ is pretty much a Pilmer, and rather cobbled together. Those pipes and the clock should never have been stuck out in front like that. Gavioli would have been incensed to see it. I operated the organ, when it was in good voice, and can vouch for how good it can really sound. Such a shame to see and hear it in semi-disrepair like this.