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Street Organs from different places

Dorsetmike

Member
Bill, the Dorset steam fair is held every year beginning of September for about 5 days about 18 miles from here, the organs were (and some still are) a feature of travelling fairs; many are now preserved and restored to their former glory and appear at venues like the Dorset Steam fair, shows and rallies for classic and vintage vehicles. Definitely a nostalgia kick for many of us.

http://www.gdsf.co.uk/
 

dll927

New member
That's what we Americans call a calliope, and they are largely a curiosity around fairs and celebrations. Or carousels. Why should an organ need steam to operate???
 

Dorsetmike

Member
They work on compressed air, when they were first introduced about 1880 the compressor could well have been driven by a steam engine, or some poor B****** hand pumping.
 

marval

New member
Thank you for that Bill, it was most interesting. They are amazing machines, someone I know has a steam organ and takes it to places like the Dorset steam fair.


Margaret
 

wljmrbill

Member
Glad everyone enjoyed them. I always thought they were neat.. Mike..must be nice to be able to see them in person... They are rare to hear around my neck of the woods now.
 

Daniel Palmer

New member
As a young child I remember being terrified of steam organs! When looking around a steam rally my mother would take the pushchair round so that I wouldn't go near them. I love pipe organs now though!
 
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