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Re: The Taj Mahal
By Bob Conant

Dear Rocci,

The Taj Mahal was sold some years back and the last I knew was in
Switzerland. This was quite an organ. It was a Mortier 101 key (the
largest Mortiers were 121 key) Belgian dance organ. It had over 700
pipes and many registers under automatic control of the music books.
The facade was done with towers and minarets in a style that led to the
name Taj Mahal. There were two larger than life sized female figures on
the facade, one in a significant state of undress, but at 7 I am sure
you did not notice that. The organ was owned in the 1970's by Q. David
Bowers who, at the time, was the proprietor of American International
Galleries in Irvine, CA. His partners were Bonnie Tekstra and the late
Claes O. Frieberg of Denmark. They were perveyors of all forms of
automatic musical instruments and many of the finest European organs
and orchestrions passed through their hands. The Taj Mahal was on
display there for quite some time before the business was liquidated. I
was fortunate to be able to visit there in 1980 and saw and heard the
Taj Mahal at that time. There was a record album produced of that
instrument which may be found at MBSI marts occasionally. This was
before digital recording however but is a good recording nonetheless.

Incidentally, there was another smaller Mortier constructed with a
similar but smaller facade. This has sometimes been called the "Baby
Taj Mahal". I believe this organ is in Europe at this time also.

I hope this information has been of use to you.

Bob Conant



(Message sent Fri, 8 Nov 1996 21:49:11 -0500 , from time zone -0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Mahal, Taj