MMD > Archives > December 2020 > 2020.12.21 > 03Prev  Next


Verbeeck 125-key Concert Organs
By Wallace Venable

The article which has been referenced, Gems from the Milhous Collection
by Fred Dahlinger, Jr. from Carousel Organ, Issue No. 32 -- July, 2007
is on the COAA website at

https://coaa.us/index_archive/Issues_31_to_40/Gems%20from%20the%20Milhous%20Collection,%20Fred%20Dahlinger_%20_32.pdf 

It simply says:

"Several new dance or concert organs have been fabricated entirely anew
by Johnny Verbeeck. Willis Boyd of Escondido, California, commissioned
Verbeeck to build a huge 125-key dance organ that was delivered in
February 1990. It contains 1,191 pipes and also incorporates two large
automatic figures that play upon drums at the arranged times. There are
35 registers in the organ. This instrument has reportedly been donated
to a university in Michigan."

There are no pictures of that organ.

It is somewhat mixed into a description of a Gaudin & Cie./J. Verbeeck
125-key Concert Organ in the (former) Milhous Collection, which is
a Verbeeck rebuild. Something in Fred's references for the Gaudin-
Verbeeck organ may be a source for information on the Verbeeck 125.

"Gaudin & Cie./J. Verbeeck 125-key Concert Organ: Mechanical Organ
Owners Society LP #100; Bowers, Encyclopedia, pages 856, 892-905, 923;
Reblitz, Golden Age, pages 248-251; Tom Meijer, "De 125-toets Gaudin-
Verbeeck," Het Pierement, XLVII-2, pages 56-59; Tom Meijer, "The
Mortier Story," Journal of Mechanical Music, Spring 2000, pages 6-13;
Kevin Scrivens & Steve Smith, Electric Scenic Railway, (2005);
Christie's catalog for Tussaud's Fairground Art Collection, Wookey
Hole, England, October 6, 1997, lots 202-205; Geoff Weedon and Richard
Ward, Fairground Art, (1981), pages 124, 129, 182-183; Johnny Verbeeck,
personal communication, October 2, 2001; Het Pierement, XX, 1, pages
8-9; A. M. Broeke "This Family Business of J. Verbeeck," Key Frame,
Autumn 1979, pages 134-142; Spring-Summer, 1970, pages 158-161; 1987,
4, pages 103-104; 1991, 2, page 56; II, pages 14-17; notes, author's
files."

Wallace Venable


(Message sent Mon 21 Dec 2020, 14:40:23 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  125-key, Concert, Organs, Verbeeck
Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation
No PayPal account required
SSL Certificate
by
Let's Encrypt