GAVIOLI organs

The Three Delights

Over the years the Silcock Family have built up a collection of fairground memorabilia and part of this collection are 3 Gavioli Organs which they call the ‘Three Delights’.

Fairground Organs are generally referred to by who owned them and for what they were used for.

They are the ‘Waldkirch Organ’, ‘Emerson’s Organ’ and ‘Crichton’s No.1 Bioscope Organ.’

Chrichton’s No1 Bioscope Organ

At The 1902 Showman’s Fairground Exhibition at Alexandra Palace, London, Mr. James Crichton purchased an 89 Key Gavioli Organ built in Paris by Gavioli, for use in his Number 1 Bio-Scope Show which toured the North West of England entertaining the public at Fairgrounds and

Shows for many years. With the passing away of Mr. Crichton, the Organ was put into storage at his yard in Birkenhead.

In 1946 the Organ was purchased by Silcock’s for use on its fairs and used until 1963 when it was sold to Mr Chamberlain and then onto Arthur Mills and was shown at steam fairs.

The organ which is also known as The ‘General Gordon’ after the name of the conductor on the organ was bought again by Silcock’s in 1980’s and takes pride of place in Herbert’s collection.

Emerson Organ

Built around 1895 it was supplied to the Piper Family of Ireland from brand new who had the instrument in the centre of their gallopers until 1914.

Randall Emerson went over to Ireland from Barrow-in-Furness to buy it from them to replace an 89 key Gavioli fairground organ that was in the centre of his gallopers.

It remained in use on rides until 1972 and the organ was placed in a lorry by Ernie and Rose Emerson and spent the remainder of its life in their ownership as an attraction in the grounds of (Levens Hall) a stately home until 1990 when it was sold to Silcock’s

The organ was re-painted and overhauled by Kevin Meayers.