After 114 years, restored to as good as new: the 90-key Mortier dance organ, No. 905, dating from 1912.
A year ago, the municipal council of Herzeele in French Flanders entrusted us with the task of fully restoring this magnificent Mortier Dans organ, built in Antwerp in 1912.
In 1957, Mr Ameloot purchased this 90-key Mortier dance hall organ from Mr Henri Denecker, an organ hireman from Bulskamp (BE), and installed it in his dance hall, ‘Café des Orgues’. The instrument has remained in the same place for 70 years.
It is to the credit of the local authority, which now owns the hall and the instruments, that it has taken the initiative to entrust this instrument to us for restoration, thereby preserving this historic instrument for the future.
Credit where credit is due: we could never have imagined that Mr Albert Ameloot, who used to tinker with his own organs, would succeed so well in preserving this organ. After all, it is a paragon of originality in every respect. For us, this is a reason to go the extra mile and pull out all the stops to achieve the very best possible result.
Three years ago, we announced the reopening of the café in this article: “Café des Orgues” Herzeele (FR) – Alberic Godderis At the time, we mentioned that the enthusiastic couple, Edouard and Coralie, would be running the café. It is therefore with mixed feelings that we learn they will be handing over the reins to new tenants. We wish them, the municipality of Herzeele, and the future tenants every success.The fit-out is in full swing; a video showing the result will follow shortly.Alberic