Hi to all!  In Belgium, most fair organs that were built by Hooghuys
(sorry, I'm still a Hooghuys-maniac ;-) originally had a cloth,
sometimes a red cloth, sometimes a grey cloth.  (A grey one can be
seen on http://members.tripod.com/bisebaer/images/LH315.gif, and a
red one on http://members.tripod.com/bisebaer/images/LH320.jpg).

In some cases, this cloth was removed afterwards, but the main purpose
of these cloths is, as I think, to be found in the extravagant
"Caroussel Salon" of those times.  At evening time,  the Caroussel
Salon was the place-to-be for the bourgeoisie, who would have a kind
of party in there, while young men tried to make a pass at young girls
by throwing confetti and streamers at them.  To protect the inside of
the organs the owner often had a cloth installed behind the facade.

I recall being told by someone who traveled with Becquart's Carrousel
Salon that they sometimes needed more than half a day to remove all
the remains of confetti and streamers, so the establishment would be
clean again for the afternoon.

Of course, when the Carrousel Salon disappeared and a lot of organs
found a place outside the fair, the instruments lost their cloth, but
here in Belgium, all Hooghuys organs in carrousels still have a cloth,
since it protects the organ from dust and dirt.

Best greetings to all !

Bjorn Isebaert
Belgium
http://members.tripod.com/bisebaer

 [ Old-timer musicians tell of playing in Texas behind a grill of
 [ chicken-wire, erected to keep out beer bottles heaved at them
 [ by the oil field roughnecks!  -- Robbie