HOOGHUYS FAIRGROUND ORGAN

This month we feature a splendid 60 key Hooghuys organ. The organ was previously in the collection of the late Mike Kitner. It is now owned by Durward Center and is part of his collection of music machines.

The organ was built by Louis Hooghuys of Grammont, Belgium in January of 1920. The organ has seen use in Belgium and Holland and was brought to the United States in the early sixties. Mike purchased the organ in the early seventies and spent a year restoring the instrument. The organ bears the serial number 625 and has 260 pipes, 9 registers including a bell register. The music scale has 6 bass keys, 10 accompaniment keys and 25 melody keys. The organ is 11 feet wide, 7 feet high, 4 feet deep and weights about 2000lbs.

The organ is now located in Orchestrion Hall, Durwards newly constructed music room to house part of his collection. The name is derived from the main instrument in the collection, a Style 5 Welte Concert Orchestrion which he has restored to perfection. Durward is considered to be the foremost expert on Welte orchestrions and their restoration.

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The instrument is one of 2 in existence. The other Style 5 is located in a palace in Istanbul, Turkey. The palace is operated by the state.

The new music room is located on the second floor so a large forklift was used to raise the organ to the access door to the room. The photos show the organ being installed in Orchestrion Hall.

Would you like your band organ featured here? It's easy! Just contact Dr. Bill Black for information on how to submit your photos!