Belgium, Antwerp

Circa 1926

Th. Mortier S.A., Gebroeders Decap B.V.B.A., J. Verbeeck B.V.B.A.

Wood, metal, steel, brass; carving, painting, carpentry, mechanical work

551 x 852 x 260 cm, 1200 kg

Inscription on facade: “Th MORTIER”. On the tape driving mechanism: “Orgelbouw”, “GEBR. DECAP BVBA”, “ANTWERPEN”, “BELGIUM”, on the control panel: “POWER”, “LIGHT”, “J. Verbeeck”, “B.V.B.A.”, “ORGAN MANUFATURER”, “ESTABLISHED IN 1884 BELGIUM”, “MENU EXIT”, “STOP”, “MENU”, “UP”, “DOWN”, “TEMPO”, “LEFT”, RIGHT”, “www.j.verbeeck.com”, “+32 3 663 04 11”. On the case detail: “1005”, On the compressor nameplates: “B.O.B. Stevenson Ltd Coleman Street, Derby, DE24 8NL, UK…”, “Rotor NL 1 ph IEC/EN60034/ TYPE 7AAC80M02K…”

Dance organ in wooden case with additional sections, painted with light-colored paint, is connected to the wooden facade by beams. The organ facade is divided by green color horizontal profiles into three tiers and consists of panels separated by vertical lilac columns with relief carved onlays, painted t in green and cream colors, with carved relief elements in the form of acanthus leaves, rocailles, curls, golden and silver color stars, painted landscapes in ornately shaped frames and images of blue sky with clouds in the arches. A protruding portico with windows covered with decorative lattices is on bottom tier of the façade central part. Two windows are on both sides of the portico, a xylophone and another window with carved decorative details and bars are above it. A set of seven hundred wooden and metal organ pipes, united in nineteen registers, a triangle, three bells, cymbals, large drum and snare drum, wind chest and air ducts are behind the façade. The inscription in golden frame: “Th MORTIER” is on white arch with carved decorations along the inner edge.

A block for reading perforated rolls: the drive mechanism channel, along which the folded cardboard book-music moves, with one hundred and five reading levers, a drive roller and a clumping unit with a roller with grooves and a cover with lock is on the case rear side. Power switch is on the case left side, a compressor-electric motor with turbine is at the bottom, a motor speed controller and a control unit - a MIDI controller are in the case.

When the organ is turned on, the compressor blows air into the wind chest and percussion instruments bellows that sets in motion a drive mechanism with paper music roll. When the holes in the music roll and certain reading levers coincide, air enters the corresponding organ windpipe, making it sound, and to percussion instruments: drums, cymbals, triangle, bells and xylophone. There are Two ways of a tune replaying are possible - from music rolls or by a MIDI controller made by J. Verbeeck B.V.B.A.

Organ No. 1005 was produced for the tenant of the dance organ Corneel De Roover, Kerkhofstraat 120 in Boom. Around 1932, it was modernized by Mortier. Around 1933, the organ was sold to Andries Ooms in Balen. After the war, it entered the Magniette collection in Hemiksem. In 1978, it was purchased by Daniel De Bie and deposited in Herentals. In 1982, Leonard Würst in Sursee, Switzerland installed the organ at the Hirschen Hotel. In 1997, it was renovated in the Gebr workshop. Decap, where it was equipped with a key frame of 105 levers, a new register, a compressor, new pipes 8 'and another scale.

Music media: music roll.