Colin Richell
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Posts posted by Colin Richell
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Yes IN 1978 I decided to form a Society to preserve the very first Standard locomotive ie Britannia Pacific 70000, which was not going to be preserved for future generations, because of minimal damage.
After 8 years of bloody hard work we bought the loco for £4,100 , and was recently sold by Pete Waterman for £700,000.
The loco has just been restored at enormous cost and is due out on the main line on the 7th April.
My history was published in Railway Magazine many years ago.
The Company was dissolved and I lost my Directorship and shareholding (£3,000)
There are only two Britannias preserved, and every week of the year you can travel behind a steam locomotive to almost anywhere in the country.
Companies such as Steam Dreams normally charge around £75 for standard class £179 for dining.
I normally do about no more than 6 trips a year because of commitments.
I am proud of myachievements, and still get a great feeling when I see a working locomotive.
Hope you get to do a trip and don't forget your camera !
Colin Richell
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Over the years I have met and befriended a great many organists, of all 'shapes and sizes', but the one thing I have often discovered about them is a passion for all things steam-driven. Of course, we all know of clerical gentlemen (Bishop Treacy being the greatest of all) who take an interest in such things, but what about the rest of us? There must be many others; I certainly know that Adrian Self of Cartmel Priory shares my enthusiasm for steam. Perhaps it's the sheer majesty of power and noise, something common to the organ in the right context! And it's a living thing, as a good organ can be.
I can understand those who stand on platforms taking numbers (all deference to them if that's their scene) but those who know about Gresley's Conjugated Valvegear, or the thrill of seeing a big engine at night when she's at full chat and throwing sparks, they are the ones to whom I equate!
And model engineering is common as well. Alan Taylor of capture-actions fame is a member of our local club, so anyone else out there with these interests?
CP
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I don't know why but I have never been impressed with the sound of this organ compared to other organs which I have heard live , or on The Organist Entertains, perhaps it is just the recitalist that puts me off.
I stopped supporting the Sunday morning concerts long ago, not forgetting some awful violinist who came on the second half and completely spoilt the programme.
I wonder whether installing the pipes under the stage would affect the sound of the instrument.but may be I am just an unashamed Wurlitzer fan.
The Wurlitzer in Thetford, Norfolk ? is brilliant and I never tire of hearing it.(recordings not live)
As they say, one mans meat is another mans poison.
Colin Richell.
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Surely, the smallest five manual in the UK has to be the Compton organ at the Odeon cinema, Leicester Square, London?
It has hundreds of stop-tabs and an impressive range of percussion, but in terms of pipe ranks, it only has about 24 or thereabouts. It all fits very neatly under the stage.
MM
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Yesterday I booked a backstage tour of the RAH, and very enjoyable it was too. The lady guide who took us around was excellent and very knowledgeable, but whilst sitting in the hall, she mentioned the seating, roofing etc, and finished by saying "I think thats all", when I asked about the organ, and she exclaimed "oh yes I forgot that ". Amazing !
We couldn't see the console or many of the pipes because they had been covered over for a forthcming show.
Pity because I really wanted to get a closeup for a change.
So if you make a visit remember you will need to remind them that the auditorium contains rather a large pipe organ.
The price included refreshments which consisted of a small cup of tea and 1 biscuit the size of a button !
Colin Richell.
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OK, I'm sorry, I give in, I shouldn't have mentioned cars, Board members can clearly distinguish configurable/repetitive manufacturing (cars) from one-off engineering projects (pipe organs).
Not the best analogy. Good job about the tin hat...
But... if the benchmark was 11-18k/stop several years ago, GBP15k/stop from UK builders now, and GBP8-9k/stop in Slovenia, there must be some downward cost pressure (in real terms taking account of general inflation).
Yes indeed, I was making the point that people subcontract for quality and for specialist items, although the specialist component maker will often have the investment in plant partly or fully depreciated, and should have developed a level of efficiency, therefore can offer keen prices.
Aphorism alert:
Projects should be effective. Repetitive line-of-business should be efficient.
As an aside, I noticed in articles about the RAH organ that Manders made various different soundboards to a 'common rod' (? IIRC) - presumably a standardised drilling pattern - to simplify manufacturing.
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I hope that people will give the new MG'S a chance and see whether the new Chinese Management can get it right.
Yes everyone runs down BL and yet didn't they invent the mini and the Land Rover and much more ?
Both these marques are very successful in spite of the fact that the so called mini should revert to a previous BL brand name ie MAXI !
Colin Richell.
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We must stop talking cars or we'll get into trouble, but I will just tell you something interesting. I had the enormous privilege of being strapped into the left-hand seat of a Metro 6R4 during the days of the infamous Group 'B' rally super-cars. 480bhp, 3-litre V6 with 4 wheel drive, and it didn't weigh a lot. 0-60 in 2.5 secs. That car was so good, nothing could touch it, and when they banned the Group 'B' category, we lost an international super-star of a vehicle.
It was designed "in house" at Rover, and to this day, it is probably the ultimate in chassis and transmission development.
Was I scared?
No, I was petrified for the first 3 miles, until I opened my eyes and started grinning like a school-boy.
That was a seriously quick machine with explosive performance.
They had some very clever people at Rover. Pity about the management; especially in the last phase of the company.
MM
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My late father always bought Austin or Morris cars, and his Morris 8 lasted for 20 years before the running board fell off.
Rover cars were also excellent and it is sad that this brand name is now owned by Ford. I owned a Rover 75 which was excellent, and how I wish I could have purchased a replacement.
The problem is that there is absolutely no loyalty amongst the British people, and yet wasn't it Honda or Toyota that has had three serious recalls for faults so perhaps they are not so clever.?
I was gutted when MG ROVER went out of business with the Company being purchased by a Chinese Company.
The good news is that the Longbridge plant has partially reopened, and three new MG models are being introduced this year, and I believe that one will be a replacement for the 75( MG 3 ?)
The Chinese are banking on loyalty to the MG marque, but don't hold your breath.
Colin Richell.
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The older engines would have been side-valve units, but I doubt that any re-design amounted to a completely "new" engine.......evolution applies as much to engineering as it does to nature.
As far as a lack of investment goes, there are only two ways of turning ailing businesses around. You can invest heavily in production techniques/design/marketing strategy, or you can cut costs and rationalise: neither being mutually exclusive in the real world.
When BMC became BL, cost-cutting and rationalisation were the preferred methods; backed by public funding as a stop-gap measure.
The Japanese and Germans, (largely due to foreign investment and the Marshall plan), chose the path of investment and the development of robotic manufacturing techniques, as well as "just in time" procurement.
The rest is history, as BL failed to compete or offer better products than their competitors at home and abroad.
Still, the genius of Sir Alec Issigonis lives on, if only in the brilliant design of the now commonplace Constant Velocity joint.
MM
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Obviously contributors have forgotten that some time ago I started a thread re The Organist Entertains where I complained that the BBC continally changed the broadcasting day, reduced the length of the programme to a supposedly 30 minutes, when in fact this was 27 minutes because of news items and stopped Nigel advertising forthcoming concerts.
I doubt whether the BBC will ever change its attitude even though I and probably thousands of other enthusiasts wrote in protest to BBC 2 at the time.
I always enjoy the programme which I listen to on "play again" except when Nigel is featuring the Hammond organ which I find repulsive.
Colin Richell
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Dance Macabre - Saint-Saens, it is then!
I find many OE programmes dull, and then we have awful request shows where they dig up Reggie Dixon. Thank heavens that OE sometimes covers the American Organists, who really know how to light up a Wurlitzer.
Try this for perfection in transcription-playing, with music by Leroy Anderson: possibly the wealthiest organist ever, with such hits as "Blue Tango" and "Sleigh Ride."
Quite a large house organ don't you think?
MM
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Would it be a good idea for forum members to advertise here recitals they are giving in the near future so that others in their area (or even beyond) could come along to offer support and maybe even raise a glass or two afterwards? Just a thought.....
Peter
SATURDAY 29TH JANUARY
CELEBRATION OF THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF ORGANISTS ONLINE AT
BLOOMSBURY CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD, LONDON WC.
PROGRAMME.
1-30 LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
1-55 INTRODUCTION PHILIP NORMAN
2-00 RECITAL 1 STUART WHATTON
2-15 PRESENTATION 1 FITZJOHN MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
2-50 PRESENTATION 2 GREGORIAN MUSIC
3-25 RECITAL 3 SUSAN HEATH DOWNEY
3-40 PRESENTATION 3 BC SHEPHERD AND SONS RENOWNED ORGAN BUILDERS
4-00 RECITAL BY CHERRY-WILLOWS PAUL
4-14 PRESENTATION 4 SMALL CHOIRS MUSIC
4-35 BUFFET
5-30 CELEBRITY RECITAL-DAVID APRAHAMIAN LIDDLE-FORMER ALEXANDRA PALACE ORGANIST.
6-30 END.
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Many thanks for your speedy response.
I will certainly look at all the options you suggest.
The theatre organ is very tempting but I am not sure whether Ally Pally would allow the instrument to be installed in the theatre, although there is plenty of room, the audotorium is huge.
Thanks once again
Colin Richell
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Worth scanning Ebay as you have various options that come up from time to time.
This one is actually being advertised in America, but similar Conns of two or three manuals pop up in the UK every couple of months or so. I have no idea how they sound, I assume they are analogue not digital, but they look like they have a fairly "straight" - as theatre organs go - specification ie 32 notes pedals not 13 or 25, and no masses of drum rhythms. Has anyone heard them in the flesh?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Conn-Theatre-Organ-M...=item27b6d590c4
Here's a plan for one, you have to put the thing together yourself. Given that there are a number of very good Hauptwerk theatre organ simulations, converting a former console to Hauptwerk (whilst retaining all stop tabs, pistons etc as opposed to playing via a touchscreen) might be another option. I tried one a while back, the gentleman had bought a genuine 1930s Wurlitzer theatre organ console and hooked it up to his PC, and it was incredible.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Theatre-Organ-consol...=item2305012aa5
If you fancy the real thing, a genuine 15 rank three manual cinema pipe organ is currently being offered whole by the Scottish preservation society for £3500:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marshall-Sykes-Theat...=item255f53549e
Contrabombarde
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Some years ago I obtained for the Ally Pally theatre, free of charge an electronic Wurlitzer to be used in the theatre foyer and auditorium.
Because of lack of use, and damp conditions the organ is very sick and it would appear to be a waste of money to have the instrument repaired (for the second time).
Eventually we will need an instrument which can be used in the foyer and easily moved into the theatre audotorium, and be heard in a very large aucoustic to accompany silent film shows and choral concerts.
The organ would have to be second hand, and I wonder whether any subscribers could offer advice on a suitable instrument, which would not object to damp conditions and little use, at present.
What kind of price are we looking at ?
Many thanks
Colin Richell.
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BLOOMSBURY CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH Tottenham Court Rd, London
Saturday 27th November 4pm
Richard Hills will appear.
retiring collection
enquiries 020 7240 0544 or see web site
Colin Richell
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St Peter's Church, Petersham Sat 20 November at 12 Noon
Adrian Lenthall will play an all-Bach programme on the new St Martin organ:
- Pastorella (in four movements) BWV 590
- Pièce d’Orgue (“Fantasia in G major”) BWV 572
- Chorale Prelude on Erbarm‘ dich mein, o Herre Gott BWV 721
- Chorale Prelude on Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (from Orgelbüchlein) BWV 633
- Canonic Variations on the Christmas hymn Vom Himmel Hoch BWV 769
Free entry, retiring collection
Petersham is a village between Richmond and Kingston upon Thames
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I trust those brave people who drove to Liverpool found 4 wheels when they returned to their cars !
I am sure that John Mander must be delighted that someone has copied his unique idea of having an open day !
We all look forward to the next MANDER open day without the bribery of free beer thank you.
Colin Richell.
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When I was flying the watchword was to avoid over-flying Liverpool, lest one lose ones undercarriage.
Thats a good one, how true even today (taken from Round the Horne)
Colin Richell.
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We will most certainly be holding an open day at some point in the not too distant future, but at the moment we are too hard pressed to organise anything. We would certainly announce it here if we do.
John
I and many others look forward to that John, and await to hear the relevant dates.
You made us very welcome on the last occasion, and we were all impressed with your full order book !
Colin Richell.
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I find Liverpool quite good for parking off the main thoroughfares, the only difference being that you have to pay a parking-fee to the locals kids, who will then watch your hub-caps/alloy-wheels for you.
MM
For years there has been a long standing comment from comedians that you will lose your car wheels if you park in Liverpool, but I am sure that this is no different to anywhere else !
Colin Richell.
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sigh...............why do I get that feeling that this posting regarding a Willis open day is now going to deviate into something unpleasant?
If we want another Mander open day, then start a new post for it please.
Why do we need to start a new post when I have responded to one open day with a request for another one ?
It seems to me that some people just want to make trouble.
I live in London and Manders are situated in London, so that makes sense for me not to travel all the way to Liverpool with the cost of travel these days.
Yes we do want another Mander open day please, so you travel to Liverpool if you want.and sigh
all you want on the journey up there.
Colin Richell.
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I see that Willis Organs have an open day coming up in November http://www.willis-organs.com. The Auckland job will be well worth seeing judging by the pics on their site.
mpk
More importantly. it is probably time for another Mander open day. I Thouroughly enjoyed the last one which was packed with enthusiasts.
Any news John ?
Colin Richell.
Organists and Steam
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