Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2004 > 2004.07.04 > 04Prev  Next


Crank Organ by Drehorgelbau Goeckel of Malsch
By Hal O'Rourke

These organs were made in a small workshop the village of Malsch near
Heidelberg.  I visited there several times in the 1980's while living
in Germany.  It was a family business run by Martin Goeckel and his
sister.  Their principal business was church organs and crank organs
were a new enterprise.  They offered several different models in 20-
and 26-note scales with a variety of pipe inventories.

There were several attempts to market these organs by various people
in the USA about 15 years ago and the builder attended at least one of
the MBSI annual meetings.  They never sold well in my opinion partly
because they had a completely unique roll format not compatible with
any other organs and the music available was limited and mainly
European titles.

Some of his early organs carried the name "Bacigalupo" but intense
pressure from disapproving German enthusiasts convinced them to
change the case design.  Some later versions had the name "Bausigalpo"
and also "W. Baus" after the German collector Werner Baus who was
somehow involved in the project.  The latest organs I've seen from
this company were in a very attractive inlaid veneer case with the name
"Alt Heidelberg."

I still have sales literature and many memories from this company,
which I would be glad to share if you contact me privately.  I have
no idea if they are still making organs or supplying rolls.

Hal ORourke


(Message sent Sun 4 Jul 2004, 11:00:16 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Crank, Drehorgelbau, Goeckel, Malsch, Organ

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   



Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2008 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                           
Pay via Amazon
Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
Please do not use
the anonymous option!
                           
Translate This Page
. .