Mechanical organ making

The mechanical organ is a variation of the church organ, but the two technologies developed very differently. Barrel organs were the first type to be developed but were eventually superseded by the pneumatic punched card and paper roll systems in the late 1800s.

In newer systems electronic and computer systems have been used on both new and old instruments whilst retaining the pipe organ element.

Mechanical organs are associated with dance halls, fairgrounds, cafes, pubs, stately homes, old cinema, street entertainment, public shows and churches (church barrel organs).

• Woodwork
• Metalwork
• Leatherwork
• Carving
• Painting
• Instrument making e.g. acoustics, musical knowledge, tuning, fluid dynamics
• Engineering

Mechanical organs vary depending on country of origin and application e.g. different materials may be used according to local availability and climate considerations.

Related crafts:

• Reed organs
• Pianola
• Music boxes etc.
• Manufacture of folding cardboard music books, paper roll and barrel manufacture.

• Training and recruitment: There are no qualifications, and funding and time to train are a problem.
• Lack of skills: There is a lack of passed down skills in conservation and restoration. The work is time consuming and requires knowledge and skills in multiple parts and components.
• Market issues: There is still a demand despite the decline in traditional use at fun fairs etc.
• Market issues: Financial and legislative changes in recent times have led to a decline in usage and wider ownership.  For example, large instruments require transportation, licencing, vehicle, taxation etc. There is also an issue with the high costs of storage for private owners.
• Supply of raw materials: Some materials are difficult to source such as metal parts that have to be engineered or types of wood used.
• Small business issues: Typically the restorer/builder has to deal with all the administration as well as the technical work. The work is time consuming with a slow turnover.
• Legislative issues: Some materials are now difficult to source and some health and safety restrictions can make things difficult.
• Global and geopolitical issues: Brexit has had an impact on the flow of materials and parts as many come from Europe.
• Poor repairs due to lack of skills: Many instruments have been poorly repaired to the point that they become unsalvageable. Instruments also need regular upkeep and servicing that can be expensive.

• Mechanical Organ Owners Society

• Mechanical Music Radio

• Fair Organ Preservation Society

• British Organ Grinders Association

• Musical Box Society of Great Britain

There are no specific training courses or apprenticeships for mechanical organ making.

• David Burville – DR Burville Organ Builders
  A professional organ builder based in Canterbury, Kent.

• Richard Dean – Dean Organ Builders
  Specializes in the manufacture, rebuilding, and repair of mechanical musical instruments, including fairground and street organs.​

• Andrew Pilmer – AC Pilmer Automatic Music Ltd.
  Offers services in the restoration and sale of mechanical musical instruments, with a focus on fairground and dance organs.​

• Kevin Meayers – Meayers Organs
  Based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the company specializes in the maintenance, conservation, restoration, and building of fairground organs and mechanical musical instruments.

• Rob Barker – Rob Barker Organs
  An independent organ builder with experience in new builds, restoration, tuning, and arranging music for various scales.

• Stuart Dobbs – Organ Builder
  Provides services in organ building, maintenance, and restoration, catering to a range of mechanical musical instruments.​

• Jonathan Smith – Mechanical Music
  Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, offering tuning, repairs, and restorations of all types of mechanical pipe organs. ​

• Robert Harris​

• A.C. Guest – Mechanical Organ Builders
  Specializes in the construction and restoration of mechanical organs, including fairground and street organs.

• Q. David Bowers, Encyclopedia of automatic musical instruments, 1997
• Laurence Elvin, The Harrison Story: Harrison and Harrison, Organ Builders, Durham, 1973
• Laurence Elvin, Organ Blowing: Its history and development, 1971
• Rollin Smith, The Aeolian Pipe Organ and Its Music, 2018
• Robert F Gellerman, The American Reed Organ and Harmonium: A Treatise on Its History, Restoration and Tuning, with Descriptions of Some
• Outstanding Collections, Including a Stop Dictionary and a Directory of Reed Organs, 1996
• Anthony Burton and Rob Scott, Britain’s Living Past, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2019

Our thanks go to our 2025 reviewers:

• Allan Guest, A. C. Guest Mechanical Organ Builders
• David Burville, Mechanical Organ Restorer
• Rob Barker, Rob Barker Organs

We consult with a wide range of practitioners and organisations to review and update the Red List. Some choose to remain anonymous but all feedback is taken into account.

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