The Christchurch
Town Hall organ
homepage
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The NZOrgan
April - May competition
CLOSED
Congratulations to Leith McMurray,
winner of the scale model.
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Welcome
to the website of the Rieger
in the Christchurch Town Hall,
New Zealand
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This is possibly the biggest prize ever to be offered to our readers: an exclusive, brand-new, first-edition scale model of a lorry bearing crates of organ pipes from Conacher. To go in the draw to win this superb piece of precision die cast modelling, answer the two questions below correctly and submit the form no later than May 10, 2006. Anyone, anywhere can enter and the successful entries will go in the draw. The winner will be notified by email, so make sure you type your email address correctly.
For more information about the fascinating problem of transporting large organs around the world in the days of sail and steam, read Pipes and Packing Cases in Musings and Amusing
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Our warmest thanks go to the kind couple from the UK who generously donated this marvellous prize, and who wish to remain anonymous.
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Click the image above for a detailed view
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- The Exclusive First Edition model is from Hattons of Liverpool - www.hattons.co.uk - Demand from organ lovers seems to have depleted stocks rapidly.
- The lorry is an AEC Matador, used extensively for heavy haulage in the 1950s and 1960s. There is site dvoted to AEC vehicles at www.aec.middx.net . The firm built many buses including London's double deckers. The owners of the version in the model, British Road Services, was a nationalised haulier that specialised in heavy and unusual loads.
- There were a number of members of the Conacher family engaged in organ building from about 1840 onward - they were to be found in Edinburgh, Birmingham and - principally - in Huddersfield.
The Huddersfield company traded, at diferent times, as James Conacher, James Conacher and Sons and as J & P Conacher. The business divided so there were later two firms of Conacher in Huddersfeld _ James C & Sons and Peter C (the latter of whom is named on the crates). He regarded his firm (founded 1854) as the original and his letter-heads - and maker's plates carried the legend "The Old Firm." It was bought up by Henry Willis in the 1960s.
Conachers were not particularly adventurous tonally - though one member of the family worked in France to gain experience. Their organs were very solidly constructed and have lasted well. They exported a number to Africa. We would welcome any information from M & A readers who might know of examples in Australasia or elsewhere. Email
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