Lot 903: Gaudin 125 Key Dance Organ

32’ W. x 21’ T. x 11’ D. Gaudin & Cie, Paris, France. This is the largest scale Gaudin Dance Organ known. During the 1920’s the firm of Gaudin created some of the most elaborate carvings and fairground organs ever built, including exposed brass trumpet pipes, life-size human figures and animals, and immense musical machines with complex instrumentation. This example was located in England mostly complete but with moisture damage. It was shipped to Antwerp, Belgium to undergo total restoration by the world-renowned organ expert Jonny Verbeeck and his staff. The musical scale was extended even further to include
a full rank of massive bronze carillon bells, the largest of which weighs about 600 pounds! At one time these magnificent organs were used in traveling shows all over Europe, including
companies that showed motion pictures, or played a concert in the town square. Attention to detail is extraordinary, from the four gold leafed, nine-foot tall wood statues, whimsical birds and carved lions, dragons, and immense gold leafed pots, oil paintings, and massive columns. The organ has been maintained in excellent playing condition and plays with either cardboard book music or a convenient MIDI player system. It comes with a nice supply of massive large cardboard music books, as well as over 100 MIDI song files. Due to size and requirements of disassembly this instrument will be sold via a video presentation online and
at the auction house. The 125 Key Gaudin Organ is assembled and in excellent working order at the collection building of Mr. Paul and son Chris Andrews in Fort Worth, Texas. Please contact any of the Morphy Auctions staff to make arrangements for a private on-site
visit and full inspection prior to the sale date. Morphy Auctions will provide assistance to the new buyer for relocation of the instrument anywhere in the world. We also refer you to reference The Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments by Q. David Bowers (p.856) for details about the Gaudin instruments produced and photos. Today there are a number of musicians arranging new music for these instruments in either book form or MIDI
digital music files. Therefore, a virtually unlimited library of songs is available for these machines. Since this instrument is unique (only example known), the opportunity to acquire a Gaudin organ of this size and spectacular detail will likely never come again! (Excellent). 800,000.00 - 1,200,000.00

[@kegginstructure]

This thing has bells, horns, and a variety of flue pipes. Astounding - and beautifully tuned. I'm impressed.

[@Mr05241948]

A very beautiful magical music machine

[@SasiakGnarly]

The most magnificent dance organ imo! The sound of the bells is beautiful!

[@CBF1]

There is one really good way of describing this thing and it is, well, grand.

[@GLoganNewellatVALVe]

This thing is magnificent. The music it makes(which has been shown on other channels here on KZbin) has helped inspired me countless times. I never knew I could love an instrument, but my heart yearns for this musical marvel.

[@simonbirt6121]

What a fabulous thing.

[@chriswardlow9441]

Fairground organs and the steam rally scene have been a part of my life for over 60 years and this organ is fantastic this what we all need at this time stay safe

[@mariolopezlinares5005]

Amazing instrument, I' ve heard this lovely Waltz in a Christmas disc of Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians. It's marvelous the sound and the ensamble of the percussions, organ and Wind instruments.

[@davidlogansr8007]

Three o'clock in the morning!

[@guymandudely324]

This sold February 25, 2012 for $1,000,000.

[@jimthesoundman8641]

Where does it live now?

[@elfurrohetero3518]

Its worth it!

[@jrzzrj]

👍 One of the best sounding yet!

[@stoystownpa]

Beautiful

[@ogboombox1556]

This thing is huge hard to believe this is the only working example known

[@RWBHere]

This was originally a Gaudin dance organ. This larger type of organ was originally used in dance halls, brothels and similar establishments. They were not designed to be travelling organs. There are still a few genuine large Gaudin dance organs around, mostly in museums. At least one has been reduced to 98 keys, but some are still using their original larger scales. The auctioneer is correct, in a sense, when they describe this instrument as unique, because it is the only large Gaudin which was gutted and turned into a 125 key Verbeeck organ. It sounds fine, and should last for many decades, if cared for, but don't buy it thinking that it is a genuine Gaudin. Most of it is not an antique. Especially not the MIDI system.

[@MrHeesbeen]

What a marvelously sweet and versatile organ. You don`t normally expect sweet and big on the same machine. It can shout when it wants to, but unlike a Gavioli on the VB scale, it goes for a musical balance rather than a "Look and listen to me", sound.It`s a bit pricey though !

[@larryjohnson6385]

Totally awesome 😎

[@user-hw5hv9rf3e]

Какая красота 😻😻

[@chriswardlow9441]

This organ is magnificent and I love this sound the decoration on it is out of this world are there any CD s thanks

[@RWBHere]

These people are only the auctioneers.

[@BrantDisneyfan]

This used to be in milhous collection but now it’s in stahls automotive museum

[@kimmajkosaveukraineroadto1127]

Yes, kinda.

[@organrepertory815]

Herrlich!

[@mechmusicman]

Some people pay 1 million dollars for a postage stamp. Which would you rather have?

[@rubetrike]

Dit ziet heel mooi uit maar de klank is la la

[@Nigel_Gardiner]

"Gaudin"........built by Verbeeck.

[@RWBHere]

Not a bad sounding Verbeeck organ though. They have done far worse with some of their -rebuilds- conversions. They are far too cheeky, selling a Verbeeck masquerading as a Gaudin. I only hope that the buyer knows that they are not purchasing the real deal.

[@paulomattozo6682]

👏👏👏👏

[@JBF-GST-Tanda]

It's some sort of non-electronic synthesizer.

[@danner253]

I must know what the song piece is called

[@chrisdoe4559]

Three O'Clock in the Morning kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnPCmo2odrKZppI

[@danielmurphy4415]

How do they transport this thing!

[@thomasfriberg225]

It's build in modules, and can be disassembled into smaller pieces. It's actually less difficult than it sounds.

[@namaste91]

@@thomasfriberg225 Are you by any chance the son of the legendary Claes Friberg?

[@thomasfriberg225]

@@namaste91 I am :)

[@edwardkenway6029]

c'est quoi comme valse?

[@ffamsterdam]

La valse s'appelle: Three o'clock in the morning..