MusingMuso Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I still have battles with people half my age who think everything they produced was rubbish. Anthony ================== 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Richell Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 ================== 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Richell Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ick1508 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Richell Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Richell Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombarde32 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 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. Pity you didn't go to the 'Doctor Who' Prom this year. Apart from being an absolute sell-out, the orchestra was MASSIVE with 12 percussionists and a bloody great Verdi Drum. A chorus of 200 or so joined in, AND THEN THE ORGAN CAME IN......... An Ear-bleedingly wonderful night. WHAT a sound - The organ sounded magnificent, and crowned the whole, just as it was meant to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Pity you didn't go to the 'Doctor Who' Prom this year. Apart from being an absolute sell-out, the orchestra was MASSIVE with 12 percussionists and a bloody great Verdi Drum. A chorus of 200 or so joined in, AND THEN THE ORGAN CAME IN......... An Ear-bleedingly wonderful night. WHAT a sound - The organ sounded magnificent, and crowned the whole, just as it was meant to do. I am glad that you enjoyed this. Aside from being trapped in a lift with Dale Winton, I am not sure I could think of anything less attractive. Just once, I would like to hear a few of the larger works of JS Bach, some Bruhns, one or two Vierne symphonies and perhaps some other French mainstream repertoire played on this instrument - and absolutely no orchestra in sight (or sound), no orchestral transcriptions - and no 'standard fayre'. This really is not intended to upset anyone - I would simply like to hear what it can make of this repertoire. Without wishing to offend anyone, I really have no desire to hear the standard type of repertoire which seems to be played on this instrument since its restoration. Yes, I know that concert organisers need to make a profit and so they choose artists and the type of programme which is likely to appeal to the majority of concert-goers. But just once, I would like to be able to enjoy a concert (or perhaps a recording is more likely) free of such items as The War March of the Priests, Widor's Toccata, the William Tell Overture or Andantino in D-flat ('Moonlight and Roses'). I expect to be disappointed - but there is no harm in wishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombarde32 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I do heartily agree with you, and the organ music you suggest. I certainly wouldn't leave my front door to hear any of that played on the Albert Hall organ. To hear Mars from the 'Planets' with such a huge orchestra with the organ was really a treat though, and my 11 year chorister son had one of the best nights of his life too. The amount of people clamouring around the organ console after the performance was testament to the affection in which this instrument is held by the general public. I can't imagine any organ lovers were there specifically..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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