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Around 1914 - 1915, a large "Welte Philharmonic" pipe organ was built for the HMHS Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic. This versatile organ could be played by keyboared, or by paper roll. The organ includes "toy counter" elements.
The reports I read vary - some say the organ was built but never installed. while others say it was installed, then removed and returned to the factory when the unfinished Britannic was requisitioned as a hospital ship for WWI duty in 1915.
For nearly 100 years there has been speculation about the existence or whereabouts of the organ. Then, in 2006, the Swiss Museum for Music Automations undertook a complete restoration of a Welte Philharmonic organ they had purchased in 1969. It was found that the word "Britannic" was stamped into wood parts throughout their organ. They had known of a few of the past owners of the organ, but the restoration reveled it's origin.
Here is a playlist of 29 pieces played on the Britannic Organ. Most are played by roll (or possibly MIDI made from a roll) and some may be by an organist. The mechanical playing is some of the best I have heard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cakh9D0mn5I&index=11&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4YnRyZRYx8IYA9di1uUWKes
More history of the ship and organ can be found here:
http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ocean-liner-britannic-was-latest.html
The reports I read vary - some say the organ was built but never installed. while others say it was installed, then removed and returned to the factory when the unfinished Britannic was requisitioned as a hospital ship for WWI duty in 1915.
For nearly 100 years there has been speculation about the existence or whereabouts of the organ. Then, in 2006, the Swiss Museum for Music Automations undertook a complete restoration of a Welte Philharmonic organ they had purchased in 1969. It was found that the word "Britannic" was stamped into wood parts throughout their organ. They had known of a few of the past owners of the organ, but the restoration reveled it's origin.
Here is a playlist of 29 pieces played on the Britannic Organ. Most are played by roll (or possibly MIDI made from a roll) and some may be by an organist. The mechanical playing is some of the best I have heard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cakh9D0mn5I&index=11&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4YnRyZRYx8IYA9di1uUWKes
More history of the ship and organ can be found here:
http://stutenzeehistoryblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ocean-liner-britannic-was-latest.html
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