The Welte at David Salomons Science Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, has
undergone restoration recently by Manders Organs and AC Pilmer.
There is an inaugural concert for the public on 21 September 2006
and further news of the event is available at
http://www.salomonsconferences.org.uk/images/Newsletter.pdf#search=%22Welte%20organ%22.

If you can't make this concert then you may want to attend the
Carols by Candlelight on 10 December 2006 to the accompaniment of
the Welte organ. (Details available at
http://www.salomonsconferences.org.uk/christmas.htm).

This is the largest self-playing pipe organ in the UK and more
information about the instrument is available at
http://www.salomonscentre.org.uk/history/science_theatre.php
or http://acpilmer.com/news.html

Mark Jefford

 [ Dan Wilson wrote about the project in 980808 MMDigest,
 [ "Restoration Funds for Welte Orchestrion".
 [
 [ Found at http://www.salomonsconferences.org.uk/welte.html and
 [ http://www.salomonsconferences.org.uk/images/Newsletter.pdf :
 [
 [  Welte Organ -- Grand Opening Concert
 [  Thursday 21st September 2006
 [
 [  The renovation of the unique Welte Organ at Salomons is nearing
 [  completion and the first public performance of this unique
 [  instrument for over 50 years will be by Nigel Ogden, the presenter
 [  of "The Organist Entertains" on BBC Radio 2.  The evening will
 [  include a short talk on the history of the Organ and a demonstration
 [  of the unique roll-playing mechanism. ...
 [
 [  The Welte Organ, which can be played manually or mechanically, is
 [  the largest self-playing pipe organ in the country (and possibly the
 [  world).  There are over 2000 pipes in the organ ranging in length
 [  from more than 16 feet to a half-inch and these are supplemented by
 [  percussion effects comprising a bass drum, cymbal, side drum,
 [  triangle, castanets, church bells & a glockenspiel.  The restoration
 [  by Manders Organs has been supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund
 [  grant.
 [
 [ -- Robbie