A failure of mechanisation: a modern handle-operated church organ cannot be turned off, so is removed from the church in the course of the service. Etching by George Cruikshank, 1843.

  • Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878.
Date:
[1843]
Reference:
3304949i
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About this work

Description

The church of Wheatham, Hertfordshire, is persuaded by one of its congregation, a City financier, to replace its old organ with a new modern self-playing organ, playing a limited number of hymns and psalms with a hand-operated cylinder, thus saving the salary of the organist. In the course of a service, when the vicar is about to start his sermon, the organ keeps on playing and cannot be turned off, as the stop-handle is broken. The organ, still playing, is removed from the church in the middle of the service, and the church subsequently reverts to a traditional organ played by an organist

Publication/Creation

[London] : [Richard Bentley], [1843]

Physical description

1 print : etching

Lettering

The self-playing organ. Drawn and etched by G. Cruikshank.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 3304949i

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • 3304948i-3304949i

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