A SURPRISE INSIDE A FAIRGROUND ORGAN

A Surprise Inside A Fairground Organ. A look at a fully working Fairground Organ from the outside and inside. I did not expect it to be quite like this one with complete Hammond Organ in the heart of the macbine. / keithappleton
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[@RobSchofield]

DeCap organs are superb - they were installed in dance halls as the "dance band", and even made an organ with three robots as the players! Great fun.

[@keithappleton]

Thanks for the info! }:-)))

[@Sessoltani]

Dance organ from Decap Anvers Belgium

[@PeterMackett]

Not a fair organ, this is a dance organ built for Belgian dance halls and cafes, they are still being built today by Decap, i have been to the workshop in Antwerp, they first started using Hammond organs in the 1950's, the more modern ones have other makes or a synthesizer instead, there are many hundreds of these 105 key organs around having both pipes and the Hammond unit.

[@elfurrohetero3518]

That's what i was thinking!

[@zeke7237]

that was definitely a surprise!

[@elfurrohetero3518]

See in live, wiht my eyes, hear it with my ears and be infront of a DECAP Dance Organ in real life, is one of my biggest dreams

[@stephenperry5849]

Wow, what an amazing machine. ❤

[@Wheels-Wheels-Wheels]

Interesting video, thanks for sharing. Good to know there are people around who can keep the old tone wheel Hammond's in action.

[@keithappleton]

I still have a Hammond L102 myself }:-)))

[@timothylangley6945]

Loved it, something different from you Keith.

[@keithappleton]

I am capable of making videos featuring diverse subjects, but then I get complaints saying that the video was not about steam engines. I cannot win, good job I like Steam Engines but really I have a lot more diversity to offer ...... c'est la vie . . . . }:-)))

[@colincunningham1902]

What a beauty! Takes me back to my childhood.

[@morgidvmw0mdv]

There was a chap living not far from me who had a fairground organ on a trailer that he towed to some of the cattle shows around here. What a wonderful sound they have. It always reminds me of the fairs my Parents used to take me to when I was a little chap, I'm now an old chap of 76.

[@Kevin-go2dw]

I think you were the right one to ask. Thank you for showing.

[@stephenrice4554]

I've only seen a couple of those ensembles and I think that's the best sounding one . Most of the gallopers at the fairgrounds had something like . Great video 👍🇬🇧

[@cleroyster2610]

You are a renaissance man Keith, truly

[@rickymherbert2899]

This video brought back so many memories from my childhood Keith as my late father was a skipper/owner of small ex Dutch coasters. During my school holidays I would go away with him many times visiting the Nederlands. If we were in port overnight he would take me ashore to a cafe he knew which had one of these organs in. I'd just spend the whole evening watching these marvellous machines. When they were playing even the glasses behind the bar would rattle. The Cafe Atlantis in Vlissingen was my favourite as for every round of drinks that got bought I would get a small bar of chocolate instead. Gosh, memories and thank you for sharing this with us Keith. 🙂

[@markfrench8892]

Fantastic.

[@4ngu54110tt]

And the type of oil required is....an exciting cliff hanger 😊 Cheers Keith

[@keithappleton]

3 In One oil. I used this for many years on my Hammond Tonewheel Organs and I never had any problems. As a pro musician I used to work 5 nights a week playing Hammond Organ and Keyboards. The old generator oil was good stuff but in later years it smelt more like Diesel. I always use 3 in One oil for Tonewheel generators.....

[@JohnGGarrett]

3-IN-ONE Motor OIL (blue top) or 3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose OIL (black top)????@@keithappleton

[@keithappleton]

Black top - definitely never use Motor Oil.

[@JohnGGarrett]

I agree, "never use Motor Oil", but 3-IN-ONE Motor Oil is for electric motors, not internal combustion engines. It might actually be better than the 3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose OIL for the tone wheel shaft bearings application. Something worth checking into. I have used it on gauge one live steam locomotive motion and axle bearings with success. Another oil worth investigating is synthetic clock oil, it will not dry out. Wishing I had a broader knowledge of tribology. I have added canola oil to other oils per your past videos and noticed a difference. Thanks for your videos, I'm hooked and try to catch them all.@@keithappleton

[@johnkey1682]

nice

[@keithappleton]

Thanks

[@TheKeyboardChronicles]

This has just blown my mind- it’s not often you get to see something like this that’s literally unique!

[@Lighting_Desk]

These are veey cool. I got to go inside one years ago at the Sunderland air show. Tgey also had enough space inside to live. It still used punch card sheets on a roll for sheet music. It was the best time and a highlight of mine. I loce fairground organs and recently got to see tge Whurlitzer at tge blackpool ballroom. We stayed tgere for hours just absorbing every sound within the gorgeous macham archetecture.

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Interesting topic. I see this particular organ quite often as it’s a regular on the steam rally scene. The workings are certainly something else but I had no idea a Hammond organ lingered at the heart of this one. A late uncle of mine used to tour with one and that ran the punched card system. A fascinating piece of equipment to watch.

[@toneault7499]

hi keith. thank you for the look a round.. in side (your organ ) lolol i must say it has a pleasant sound to the ear . thank you.. tone U.K.

[@keithappleton]

it's not mine }:-)))

[@colincampbell7027]

If you ever get to Southern California there is the Nethercutt Museum which houses very old cars and a complete floor of mechanical orchestras which they play for the tour. Horns, organs, drums etc. All from the early 1920s. Incredible. Wonderful to see this. A dying art for sure. I hope you can help the fella and keep that incredible machine working for years to come.

[@grumpyboomer61]

Can't say that I've ever seen something like that before. Fascinating bit of technology.

[@kingofthepod5169]

What a wonderful machine. Makes me wonder what powers the one at Kings Island.

[@AdrianPardini]

That's a lovely organ.

[@timodeporto686]

Absolutely wonderfull, what a machine!

[@SteamerEdge]

Fascinating Keith, I've always wondered how those marvelous old fairground organs work. Cheers Paul

[@warrenuecker683]

Delightful! Do make some more videos on this if you can. I started out as a church organist 50+ years ago on a Hammond model ??? and remember it fondly.

[@hmsjr0154]

Now that was a surprise and very intriguing to look at.

[@mikus4242]

Very cool! It was enlightening.

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Great Video😊

[@keithappleton]

Thanks! 😊

[@willemkossen]

Very interesting. How did this machine from antwerp get in the UK? In Utrecht, the Netherlands, there is a museum about all sorts of mechanized instruments and musicboxes. It’s called “ van speelklok tot pierement”l and everyobody should go there at least once.

[@keithappleton]

No idea, this is not in my field of expertise.

[@jeffarmstrong1308]

Great fun. I am sure that you enjoyed yourself!

[@keithappleton]

I did }:-)))

[@johnfox4691]

An amazing machine.

[@keithappleton]

I thought so too }:-)))

[@leifvejby8023]

Loved it, thanks, and please bring on more of it!

[@keithappleton]

It is down to the owner, I don't want to be too pushy ......

[@624Dudley]

That was quite remarkable! Thanks Mr. Appleton 👍

[@robertweldon7909]

Wow, now this is worth not seeing stuff about steam engines, The complexity involved here is amazing. It reminds me of a traditional pipe organ's complexity. I've seen videos showing fixed installations of similar INSTRUMENTS, but never inside one, and this one moves about. That loose pipe just might operate the horns? Maybe, some further videos are in order here. Ya, I know, this "Main Steam". Ah, this runs on air and your model engines are most often run on air too. Keith, sometimes a good opportunity just shows up at your door, this surly is one of those times. ;-)

[@paulrayner4514]

nice change

[@Daveliptrot]

Beautiful.

[@keithappleton]

Very!

[@jrzzrj]

👍...good stuff

[@keithappleton]

Thanks 👍

[@darylpartrick6440]

Love organs like this such a thing of beauty

[@robertburns2415]

How delightful Thanks for sharing 👍

[@emiliosolis5056]

Sina Drums might say more cowbell.

[@keithappleton]

Sonor Drums

[@johnclarke2814]

Do these organs run on vacuum (like a player piano) or pressure (like a church organ) or a mixture of both. It seems like the pneumatics for the drums, cymbals, and accordion keys would be vacuum but I'm not sure about the wind for the accordions. Anyway I love these fascinating machines no matter how they run.

[@keithappleton]

I really have very little knowledge on how the air system works in these things.

[@paulshouse524]

I wish I could crawl around inside a dance-band organ! Please DO make more detailed videos about it!

[@bullettube9863]

Well I see one problem right off. It's only got one cowbell! You need more cowbell Keith!

[@patchvonbraun]

That was just delightful. IF you do get to spend more time in the "guts", yes, please make videos.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Keith great sounding organ, just needs a showman's engine to run a generator to power it .... Always enjoyed listening to The Stranglers mainly because of the great sound of keyboards by the late Dave Greenfield. I knew he used a Hammond so I thought I'd see if it was similar to the one here and came across an archive article entitled Crest of a Wave from 1985 where Dave explains his progression onto other types, it was quite an interesting read, they were joking about whether he would still be playing ten years later and he did so until his death, taken by COVID unfortunately. Be great to see some more of this organ if the owner is willing Have a great week

[@keithappleton]

The owner rallies his collection and does just that.

[@ilfarmboy]

when it used cards in my view a crude computer

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Did you oil up the organ? Great video, I really enjoyed it.

[@Jm4steam]

Awesome video. Is the Hammond organ original to the band organ? I'm less involved today, however, used to build and restore pipe organs. I've never seen the larger sized fairground organs in person. Only orchestrians and small fairground organs...oh, and a merry go round organ.

[@schwarzalben88]

Does the Cimbasso in the alcove on the right had side work?

[@keithappleton]

No, that is a dummy as is the Saxophone.

[@e-mananimates2274]

Regarding the pipes on that organ, do they actually work?

[@keithappleton]

Not sure, I think some probably do work, as inside the machine there is a lot of air piping.

[@e-mananimates2274]

@@keithappleton Fair enough! It's a very interesting band organ!

[@southernrrman]

Nice, but i didn't see you oil anything. 😄

[@Sessoltani]

105 Key

[@srtgrayfrance]

What lubricant did he need?

[@alangknowles]

Sooo...? Steam oil or extra virgin olive oil?

[@keithappleton]

Neither, a fine oil is required - I use 3 In One oil and I used this for many years on my Hammond Tonewheel Organs without any problems. As a pro musician I used to work 5 nights a week playing Hammond Organ and Keyboards. The old generator oil was good stuff but in later years it smelt more like Diesel. I always use 3 in One oil for Tonewheel generators.....

[@alangknowles]

​@@keithappletonHe found the only person with knowledge of showman's organs, steam, electronics and fixing Hammond organs in Britain. Did he want to put it on a model plane or boat?

[@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH]

This is NOT a Fairground organ it is a Dance Band organ. This is a 105 key Gebr Decap / Hammond of the 1960s Hundreds of this particular model were built most of which still exist today This represents what Gebr Decap were building in the 1960s as the firm is still in business building organs & this particular model with the Hammond was produced right up until 1979 as the supply of Hammond organs was beginning to dry up & this led to the next generation namely the 105 Gebr Decap "Extra Special" which instead of a Hammond contained a box full of electronic sound modules built by Gebr Decap & these had a totally different sound as this led to the development of the present generation of Decap organs which are Midi controlled & use the latest digital systems which are a lot smaller than this .

[@keithappleton]

And that NON fairground organ has been converted to be MIDI controlled and is somewhat problematic . . . . .