Details
Image(s)
TitleStreet Organ 'the IJzeren Hein'
Creator Arthur Bursens
PlaceAntwerp (Belgium)
Year 1933
Object number1158
Object categorymechanical instruments with organ pipes
Object namestreet organ, organ with book
DescriptionThe ‘IJzeren Hein’ is a 67-key book organ.
Accompanying textsThe organ has bourdon and violin stops, and for the countermelody there is a voix celeste stop. Most of the repertoire accompanying the organ comes from after World War II.
The organ was built in 1933 by the Arthur Bursens firm in Antwerp, having been commissioned by Theo Denies, an organ rental company from the Hague. Some of the organ pipes also come from the German firm Schönstein, which frequently supplied Bursens. Interestingly, the organ has a front in the Art Deco style, instead of the much more common neo-baroque style.
Theo Denies had a large number of organs for hire, almost all of them of Belgian origin. In the mid-1930s, however, Denies began to see that the future was probably leaning more towards the jukebox, and gradually sold his organs. The IJzeren Hein and its sister organ were also sold then, to a travelling fairground operator.
After WWII, these organs ended up in the Perlee collection, where the fronts were repainted, greatly reducing their special appearance. The organ then played in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem and Zaltbommel, among other places. It was during this time that it received its nickname. Indeed, the 'iron' organ apparently continued to play in all weather conditions. In the 1960s, it played in Utrecht and, together with the other organs of the Perlee firm, the organ ended up in the hands of Museum Speelklok in 2008, where it underwent a major restoration in 2014.
The organ was built in 1933 by the Arthur Bursens firm in Antwerp, having been commissioned by Theo Denies, an organ rental company from the Hague. Some of the organ pipes also come from the German firm Schönstein, which frequently supplied Bursens. Interestingly, the organ has a front in the Art Deco style, instead of the much more common neo-baroque style.
Theo Denies had a large number of organs for hire, almost all of them of Belgian origin. In the mid-1930s, however, Denies began to see that the future was probably leaning more towards the jukebox, and gradually sold his organs. The IJzeren Hein and its sister organ were also sold then, to a travelling fairground operator.
After WWII, these organs ended up in the Perlee collection, where the fronts were repainted, greatly reducing their special appearance. The organ then played in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem and Zaltbommel, among other places. It was during this time that it received its nickname. Indeed, the 'iron' organ apparently continued to play in all weather conditions. In the 1960s, it played in Utrecht and, together with the other organs of the Perlee firm, the organ ended up in the hands of Museum Speelklok in 2008, where it underwent a major restoration in 2014.
Dimensions
geheel height: 310 cm
geheel width: 360 cm
geheel depth: 180 cm
geheel width: 360 cm
geheel depth: 180 cm