Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)

Subject: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 07:00 AM

Beloved family pet...

The home that looked promising for my harmonium fell through, and so if anyone would like to offer it a happy place to curl up beside the fire, it's waiting and willing.

The bellows need mending - the oilcloth fell victim to mice many years ago - but it used to have a lovely tone when last played.

This was the instrument of a small Protestant sect (what, I'm not sure) in the Strawberry Beds; the last of that ilk passed it to my parents to mind, and so it came to me some 30 years ago.

I can't deliver it, unfortunately - in a moment of madness I accepted the gift of a saloon car, useless for any normal car purpose such as hefting bags of manure and old wardrobes, unlike my normal van-type vehicles.

It would be wonderful to see it happily playing again, its old mahogany glowing with happiness.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 01:33 PM

Poor little beastie. No one wants it.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Rain Dog
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 01:48 PM

I hope that someone finds your harmonium

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 03:02 PM

LOL!

Have you considered advertising it in Buy&Sell?

http://www.buyandsell.ie/

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 03:07 PM

Oddly enough, my wife and I found a home for a harmonium in Dublin a few years ago. Mind you, it was a Catholic one - they're easier to rehome! ;>)

regards

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 11:26 AM

I don't want to advertise it in Buy & Sell - I'm afraid some non-musician will buy it and strip it for its mahogany, ebony and ivory.

I know it's an inanimate object, but I feel kind of responsible for it, seeing as it was at the centre of the defunct sect.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 11:27 AM

And yes, of course a Catholic harmonium would be easier to house. Once tried to play The Croppy Boy on it and The Flute came out...

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 11:54 AM

Yikes, that's a good point about the danger of cannibalism. Hadn't thought of that...

I'll try to ask around Cork, where I live. Do you have any way of uploading a photo of it anywhere so we could see what it looks like? That might be a good persuader. Mahogany, ebony & ivory, what a mouth-watering combination.

Where in Ireland are you? (If you don't want to say online, fair enough.)

How long ago was it last played? Do the reeds seem to be in good working order, not rusted/broken/bent etc? Wish I had room for it - I love those old keyboard instruments.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 12:10 PM

This was the instrument of a small Protestant sect (what, I'm not sure) in the Strawberry Beds; the last of that ilk passed it to my parents to mind

You have me thinking now... Much of the area belonged to the la Touche family, IIRC - Huguenots. Must check.

Regards
p.s. The other big landowners were the Guinness family, of obvious fame.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 04:31 PM

I have one in very similar condition out here in NZ - it lives on the back porch now and usually has a plastic sheet covering it. It was living in the rumpus room but that was needed for something else.
There's no market for these things around here so I just keep it and occasionally pump out a tune on it, just for old times sake.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Mar 09 - 06:36 PM

Blimey, what a pity you are not in the UK.

I am sure Wild Willy Barrett & Mary Holland (who plays Harmonium) would have taken it and refurbished it to how it should be.

Wild willy Barrett & Mary holland Scroll down to see pictures.

See Wild Willy Barrett's Bad Boys including Mary Holland

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 05:06 AM

I'm in Dublin.

OK, I've put two pictures - not very good, I'm afraid; photography isn't my talent - on this site , showing it open and closed.

I'm not sure where I'd find the reeds. It was last played about 15 years ago, and has been in a dry, warm room since then.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 05:26 AM

I used to have one of those! I loved mine - it had a big, full rich voice. (And yes, I couldn't keep it for the same reason as you: lack of space). I'm no expert on old reed instruments but logic tells me that if it sounded nice when it was last played, and hasn't been hauled around a lot or subjected to the indignities of a damp decaying atmosphere, then the reeds should be fine and probably best not messed about with. They surely wouldn't come to physical harm just sitting there immobile. (Or at least I don't think so, though a professional restorer may correct me.)

Is it worth trying to email Mary Holland from the link above? That Free price-tag is pretty unbeatable, and they might be holidaying in Ireland some time - summer's not that far off - and Dublin's easy to get to. (Hard to miss, actually.) If I come up with any potential new owners I'll PM you.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 05:46 AM

I'd be shy about emailing a stranger with a sudden harmonium offer, but if Wild Willy (what a name! does he live up to his promise?) and Mary Holland would want it - or anyone else would, to play music on, I'd be very happy.

If anyone had a van it would be easy enough to transport it on the ferry; unfortunately my car is designed to fit people rather than objects (silly design), and so I can't transport it myself.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Rasener
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 05:55 AM

I just checked with Willy Barrett. He isn't interested.
Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 05:56 AM

Thanks for checking, TheVillan.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 11:16 AM

Looks like it's the emigrant trail for the oul harmo.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 03:49 PM

What's that mean? Did you find a home for it over the water?

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: GUEST,Vicky Langan
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 07:39 AM

tried to make a post there. Hope this one works...
I would love to give it a home. Someone was offering one on freecycle cork -I replied but have yet to hear back. I hope it's not gone already. I'm a sound artist, I love drones and this instrument would be very loved and appreciated.

[e-mail]

vicky

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 08:03 AM

Fantastic, Vicky Langan! Register (go to the homepage and give yourself a username and password) and send me a PM and we'll go from there. Bless your music-loving heart!

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 08:09 AM

Or you can email her at

[e-mail]          ;-)

Delighted it's getting a good home, and (from the sound of it) near Cork, too. Even better -


Vicky, do you perform or have a website?

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Wölflinge
Date: 31 Mar 09 - 08:18 AM

I do, here is my myspace

http://www.myspace.com/thewickermmammy
http://www.myspace.com/femaleorphanasylum

A photo of recent performance piece:
http://www.mariahtheblack.blogspot.com

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 02:46 PM

Unfortunately, this loving home seems to have fallen through, because of the size of the harmonium - three feet top-to-floor, three feet side-to-side, and two-and-a-half feet front-to-back.

Still
there for any loving composer or player who'll take good care of it and play it.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:14 PM

Last week someone phoned me to ask if mine was still available.
But he wanted to demolish it and use the bellows!
I said NO, the bellows were perished and anyway, it's an antique!
Humph!!!
Mine is about the same size as yours but I suspect it's a bit older - it has more carving, scrolls and flowery bits. It does still play but needs lots of pumping on the pedals to get the air moving through. It's labelled the Imperial Organ Company of Canada and was imported by the Dresden Piano Company.
So it can stay where it is, on the back porch!!!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:12 PM

Mine would certainly not indulge itself in flowery bits. This is a black Protestant harmonium! If it had a budgie, it would chain up its swing on the Sabbath to make sure it wasn't having any unlicensed fun.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: GUEST,ciaran
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 07:46 AM

I'd definitely be intersested in giving the harmonium a good home, i'm trying to build a small recording studio and it would be a welcome addition, can you give me a call on 0861011791 to discuss, thanks

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 10 - 06:31 AM

Hi there

I have just seen your advertisement and I know of a loving home. I am guessing that you may already be sorted but in case you are not please do call me or I can call you. Telephone [phone]
Many thanks

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 08:44 PM

Hi There. Musician in Donegal who has a loving home and appreciation for the Harmonium if still availible. Can collect.
You can contact me at [e-mail] uk
Please let me know if this instrument has gone.

regards

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:04 PM

Still there! I would so love to find a good and loving home with a musician! Do you still want it? Will email you!

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:09 PM

Tried the email address given - [e-mail] uk - and Gmail won't send the mail, says the address doesn't configure. And (assuming that 'Guest' is the same person in both of the last two mails, could you repost the phone number with international dialling code so I know where it is?

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: gnomad
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:26 PM

The "Ulster" e-mail address suggests UK as the place of origin, as does the shape of the number given. You might like to try phoning [phone] (if I recall correctly you drop the initial 0 from a UK dialling code when calling from elsewhere)

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 05:35 PM

It does, gnomad, but on the other hand, the poster said s/he was in Donegal, which is in Ireland. But the number doesn't compute for Ireland, as you point out. I might give it a try in the morning, see if I totally confuse some poor person or find a good home for the harmonium. That would be great.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Noreen
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 07:33 PM

The suffix .ac.uk signifies an academic institution- in this case Ulster University, which has a campus in Derry. So it is conceivable that Mr/Ms P Harrigan lives in Donegal and works or studies at the University in Derry.

email address would likely be [e-mail]

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:16 PM

Tried stripping out the 'email' bit already, Noreen (yes, I guessed also that it was the University of Ulster) and still got a malformed address reply; I'm wondering if P Harrigan had a student account in the university last autumn, but no longer has one.

Tenterhooks installed and in working order...

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 06:33 AM

Since Ms/Mr Harrigan's message was posted last September, he or she may have given up and not be checking in anymore. Not knowing whether this is a student or member of staff, I think your best bet is to try to contact the University itself and get them to pass a message on. There does seems to be an internal student email system.

http://www.ulster.ac.uk/contactus/

http://www.ulster.ac.uk/atoz/

There are also the other two posts above that one, which have phone numbers in them. Did either of those pan out?

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 06:44 AM

Educational institutions reminds me: If this lead doesn't work out, I can circulate a message around the staff email of the music school where I teach (in Cork), but will need to give them an email for you and also - if possible - a phone number. It's a password-protected internal system so it's not like advertising your info on the internet. Don't know why I didn't think of that before...

So, Thompson - can you PM me your contact details & a full name, if you want me to do this? I'll wait a few days though, to see what does or doesn't happen with the people who've already shown interest in it.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Max Johnson
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 06:51 AM

Perhaps no longer relevant, but Malcom Manning of Manning's Musicals in Bradford, Yorkshire, (just google) used to fix up anything with reeds, and might provide or suggest a source for reeds for your harmonium.

Max.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 07:47 AM

Bonnnie - Have sent that PM, many thanks. I've already emailed the webmaster asking him or her to pass my email to the email admin, but will try your links too.

Max, I think the reeds are ok; it's just that the mice found the oilcloth delicious so the bellows need patching or replacing.

Even after all these years of hanging out with heathens and their mice, there's still a faintly religious smell about the interior of the lovely old harmonium :)

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:01 PM

Have rung the phone number and got on to a lovely woman in England, who has hope of finding a home for the harmonium. Between that and the email search for the Donegal home, there seems some hope of finding the poor creature a happy place to bring harmony.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:58 PM

Some pictures of the harmonium:

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 02:51 PM

Bump

Have now found contacts for the two posters who offered possible homes and am waiting to see if either comes through. Would be so thrilled if it came to pass.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 06:51 AM

But alas no. Neither of the posters contacted me back.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 07:19 AM

Tomorrow when I'm in school I'll circulate the info around the internal staff email, as promised. Someone in the keyboard department might want it!

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 07:26 AM

Oh, I hope so, Bonnie! I would so love to find it a good home.

You saw the pictures?

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 08:52 AM

Yep - will include that link too!

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Thompson
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 05:27 PM

GUEST collected the harmonium today and took it home with him to what I'm happily confident is a good and loving home where it will be played and minded. He showed me a picture of another foster-harmonium which is obviously well loved and played.

I'm so delighted to have a successful end to my 30-year search for the perfect owner for this instrument. Thank you for all your help - I couldn't have done it without you.

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 05:44 PM

Great post Thompson - glad to hear that the harmonium has found a home!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Harmonium seeks loving home (Ireland)
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 05:47 PM

:)