Forrest's 65 key Gavioli
The famous organ builders GAVIOLI of Paris were responsible for the craftsmanship that went into the building of this beautiful hand - carved mechanical instrument. Built in 1895 for the firm of William Hoadley & Son of Barrow it has travelled the fairgrounds ever since. The superb 65 Key organ was built to stand in the centre of the magnificent set of three-abreast Gallopers built by Savages of Kings Lynn Norfolk the previous year 1894. The Gallopers and Organ were taken from fair to fair behind a Mammoth Steam Traction Engine named DREADNOUGHT. When the fair was in full swing the engine's other job was to generate the power for the Gallopers' electric lights. The Gallopers, Organ and Engine were bought from Matilda Hoadley in 1921 by Swales Forrest of Gravesend Kent. The set travelled together until the beginning of the second World War when DREADNOUGHT was replaced by an ARMSTRONG SAURER haulage tractor. In 1962 the organ was taken to Holland to be rebuilt by Mr.G.Perlee of Amsterdam. The Gallopers and Organ can still be seen travelling the fairgrounds of the London and Home Counties area.
A CD of this organ is now available. It contains 24 tracks and is priced at £10.00. They can be purchased from John wherever the ride is.
Tapes of the Gavioli are also available from John, and are priced at £5.00 each.
To hire the Ride and Organ, go to John's website or you can call him on: 07885 475916.
Click pictures to view full size version
2002 Dickensian Christmas Festival in Rochester Castle gardens.
Dickensian Christmas 2007.
This was the cover of the Gavioli's first LP, released back in the early 1970's.
This picture was given to me by John and it shows how the ride looked prior to its last refurbishment.
1974 at the Medway Steam Fair, on the Great Lines, Medway.
At the Sellindge Steam Rally in 2006.
Whitstable Regatta 2004.
Also taken at the 2002 Dickensian Christmas Festival in Rochester.
At a Dartford Lions fete during 1974. I still have the recording made with those microphones.
In John's yard 2007 the ride and organ are in the two trucks and ready to roll.
This picture was given to me by Thomas Emerson MacWhannell and shows the organ at Wingham Engineering Works.
At the same place in 1975.
At the Rochester Sweeps Festival 2005.
The ride is dwarfed by Rochester Castle during the Dickensian Christmas Festival 2005.
This is the place where the punched card music runs through.
Detling Steam Rally at the Kent County Showground 2003.
Another view of the two trucks.
Also from Thomas, this shows how the organ looked prior to it's last re-paint.
At the June Dickens Festival 2007.
John Forrest with ride at the 2006 Rochester Sweeps Festival.
John's other organ, a 46 key Marenghi at the 2005 Detling Steam Rally.
Pictures on this site are available for Personal Use only