Organ grinders.

Subject: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 05:47 PM

As many of you probably know I go out street entertaining with harp. This is ok but sometimes I would like a change. Personally I like the old busking organs, and I would like to give it a go - but everybody I talk to about this thinks Iam wasting my time (and money) as nobody wants (or is no longer interested in) organ grinders. Any organ grinders on here? Any stories to tell? What do you think?

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Jim Krause
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 10:44 PM

I have to admit, that I've never seen or heard a live organ grinder. I qualify my statement thus because I seem to remember some comic bits in cartoons on television when I was a kid involving organ grinders, or their mascots.
Jim

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: jets
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 11:22 PM

I work the street with a 2row accordion and I think that an organ grinder would do as well and I do quite well.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 01:48 AM

harpmaker, thanks for this thread. I decided to go look on google to see if there were any sites for busking organ grinders and I found out all kinds of information about hand crank organs in general. Fascinating and amazing; there are even some which use tiny discs, instead of rolls, yet you can still hand crank them and control a few of the elements!

Do all of these types of organs use rolls of music, like the old music boxes? Are any of them like a hurdy-gurdy in that you can, theoretically, play tunes on it; I mean without using a roll?

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Bagpuss
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 06:41 AM

No, I'm just the monkey

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 06:49 AM

I vaguely remember an organ grinder with a monkey who used to walk around our neighborhood. His was small with a crank. Again, vague memories but I believe he carried it strapped on like an accordian. The monkey sat on his shoulders leashed. We had no money to give him but did enjoy playing with the monkey. We had another man with a small cart who used to sharpen knives...and milk was delivered as was bread.

But, on another note: I was on the phone with a friend who suddenly announced "Oh, the organ grinder is back." I stupidly said "Let me hang up the phone and I will bring Lawrence (then 9) to see him." She was referring to the gentleman in the next building who made it a practice to expose himself at the windows and "grind his organ." She had to explain it to me.

As to your question, harpmaker. An organ grinder in the right neighborhood wuld be a welcome sight. Go for it.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Amos
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 09:54 AM

Even an organ grinder's monkey will enjoy those MUDCAT CD's -- got yours yet?

A

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 10:19 AM

Sins, that post is so ripe with joke possibilities that I don't know where to start!!! LMAO

Spaw

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: MMario
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 10:30 AM

I *have* seen organ grinders; one even with a pet monkey - though he admitted the monkey was as apt to eat any coins in his cap as to bring them back to him.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 10:40 AM

Well, here is one of the sites I found, yesterday. I didn't post it, at first, because I couldn't remember if harpmaker is in the UK or not.:-) Here ya go: British Organ Grinders' Association.

Spaw, I am stunned by your restraint!*bg*

kat

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: mooman
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 10:45 AM

'Spaw...you could start with the monkey grinder's organ perhaps...

moo

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Amos
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 11:28 AM

Like Spaw, "his was small, with a crank...". :>)

A

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: open mike
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 11:48 AM

i wonder why the name hurdy gurdy is used for these instruments
when the actual hurdy gurdy or wheel fiddle has a wheel which,
like a bow vibrates and resonates strings which can be played
with keys. do these organs have strings??

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 07 Dec 02 - 07:18 AM

Unlike hurdy gurdy's, when you turn the wheel on an organ it operates several things, depending on type of organ. if we look at 'barrel organ' 1/ turns a barrel inside the organ, this tells the organ which note's to play. 2/ operates a bellows system, for the wind to sound all the different pipes. This, as far as I know up to now would be a very bassic organ.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 05:10 PM

Iam trying In vein to listen to xmas carols on my pc to one of these organs. I have serched all over the place, If anyone (a brighter spark than me) can spare some time to search the net, and come up with some carols, I will send them one of our highly acclaimed CD's 'Oxytocin' (as seen on the mudcat CD's) as a thank you. (sounds like a job for Masato!)

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 05:23 PM

Man ... talk about coincidence! Just this last Sunday, I gave a VERY OLDE organ grinder away. The only problem was that it was in pieces and resting in four different boxes. I would guess there were at least 500 parts, from pipes to wooden levers, a leather bellows, wires springs and valves. (my first car wasn't this complicated) The man I gave it to knows how to reassemble it. It has 77 pipes, with only three missing. I figure it will take him a year to assemble it, but if anyone can. he will do it. And I also plugged in "organ grinder" on goggle and got a lot of information. But, if I come up with a monkey, I'll let you know. And, OH, by the way, the term "Organ Grinder" is not a new dance! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: RangerSteve
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 05:49 PM

Go for it. And, by the way, Lark in the Morning sells new ones.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 06:01 PM

Awwwwwww Deckman, wish Ide have known, I would love to get my hands on a restoration project. Never mind err, Christine, (the missus) thinks Ime mad, She say's "dont think Iam going out with you with one of them" but the more and more I think about it , the more determained Iam.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 06:25 PM

One of the funnier comments I picked up from a website was this: "The organ grinders were payed to NOT play their music!" CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 06:39 PM

See, if that ain't easy money!! Sounds like Ime in a minority here, but.....Cheers Bob.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 06:46 PM

I had always assumed that Spaw was a big crank with a small organ...no?

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: jimmyt
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:15 PM

Harpmaker, I was in Paris last spring and there is an organ grinder playing near the steps in front of Sacre Cour in Montmarte. It was absolutely fabulous ONe of the absolute best street entertainers I have ever seen anywhere. His used some cardboard punched cards that were hooked together in accordianlike fashion and just watching it work was wonderful, but this guy was like Victor Borge' in his showmanship!! He sang all the French songs with the organ accompanying him and he drew an enormous crowd. Probably was getting more money than any other busker I have ever seen in so short of time!! Should be a very effective instrument, plus knowing you are maintaining a musical tradition should give you some sense of satisfaction also. Let us know how you progress. I will come see you!

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:17 PM

SINS, you never know!!, but reading back over the thread, he does have a point!!

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Deckman
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:38 PM

Hmmmm? "A big crank with a small organ." Maybe he should become an organ donor ... Oh, never mind! bob

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:50 PM

jimmyt,now you've done it! it sounds real goood to me but, She's packin' me bags. oooohhhh!!!

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 08:02 PM

No carols on offer yet?????? what, with a free CD involved (send anywhere in the world) Hmmmmm.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 07:17 PM

refresh!

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 07:36 PM

I used to go with a girl that had a chipped front tooth...

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 12:42 AM

I last saw one in New Haven about 50 years ago. I enjoyed it then and would enjoy it now...but taking on a monkey is just another matter.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 08:28 AM

There were not one but two street organs playing in Petersfield (UK)a couple of weekends ago.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 02:29 PM

I used to go with a girl that had a chipped front tooth? Give us a Clu - in! I think that if you where to take a monkey out on the streets today, animal rights would would go mad, and rightley so.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Deckman
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 05:06 PM

Maybe you could put the girl with the chipped tooth out on the street. By the way, was her name "Beth?" Oh, wait a minute ... never mind!

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: harpmaker
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 07:21 PM

Beth,indeed, & chiped nashers? Why should it get so complicated when all I want to do is grind me an organ!? me dears.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 11:58 PM

The chipped tooth was in aid of that. Hardly erotic.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: GerryM
Date: 26 Oct 25 - 06:58 PM

With all the double entendre play in some of the posts in this thread, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Organ Grinder Blues. There are many recordings out there, going back to 1928 or so. In particular, Clarence Williams recorded it, with vocalist Ethel Waters.

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: meself
Date: 27 Oct 25 - 10:28 AM

Wouldn't the modern equivalent of an organ grinder be someone with an expensive radio and a tin cup (monkey optional)?

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 28 Oct 25 - 07:13 AM

I remember that Denis brought one that he had built himself to a Concertina weekend quie a few years ago. Impressive.

Robin

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 29 Oct 25 - 07:29 AM

> monkey optional

Oook?

Subject: RE: Organ grinders.
From: meself
Date: 31 Oct 25 - 09:15 PM

And this barrel organ bit just showed up on my youtube feed: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IebOjvRRFP8

I could listen to it all day.