My interest in mechanical organs began way back in the 1970's when I used to attend Rallies and act as "Gavi" Man on various organs, in the early 1980's David Vipan was one of the only people presenting organs at events and in the streets "Busking" 5 or 6 days a week in the UK.
His work load was getting more than he could manage, so I joined him in 1983, Attending events all over the UK. This continued for many years.
I did most of the simple maintenance on the Organs, but when Dave started to Import Decap Herentals Dance Organs,
I went and trained In their works to be able to do repairs in the UK.
I then knew two Digital Systems, The Alan Pell Harmonist and Decap Herentals Tape system, I decided that I needed my own sytem so I started studying MIDI, and I had to import my first software for P.C. from America in 1990. I was the first person in Europe to use MIDI on Mechanical organs.
I had already got an Albert Decap, which I had running on the Decap Herentals Digital Tape system, so that was converted with my experimental MIDI system, Later to be called the ODEON player system.
Then in 1991whilst working on a freelance basis for Alan Pell, I was approached by one of his customers to build an organ, Alan was not able to do it due to other work pressures, so I took on the job.
The Organ was to be a "Mini" Dance organ it had to be able to be lifted in sections to fit in a small van, and it had to work itself unattended, for fundraising outside a shop.
After a slight delay of a few months whilst I got my new workshop at Whale Drove, I finished the first organ December 1992.
Unfortunately it was only with its first owner for a few months. He being an elderly gent, and he passed away. His family asked me to find a new owner, which I did and the organ passed to a very good friend of mine Mr John Francis, Who looked after and improved the organ over the next 25+ years.
On his passing his boys offered it back to me. Which I happily purchased, Updated and now have sold to a new owner in Kent.
Merry-Go-Round Music #ODE 1
Whilst this was all going on,
I had ordered an Automatic Book Punching Machine,
(which due to various reasons I never got),
I had also purchased Alan Pell's book cutting operation including all his patterns for 27 and 48 key scales. I had also swapped two 105key music wheels with Decap's for all their music on Tape, All of which I converted to MIDI music. And I had the sole permission to sell, in the UK. At the same time I also got permission from Albert Chiappa to copy his music onto MIDI as long as I did'nt produce book music. And then permission from Kevin Byrne & Hiddo Van Oss to use all of his arrangements.
