Draaiorgel De Arabier

Historic Dutch Street Organ

'De Arabier' is a barrel organ (carousel) lending it's Dutch name from the Arab painted on one of the side-boards. It was built in northern Italy around 1875, then rebuilt in 1926 by Pierre Verbeeck (Antwerp, Belgium). In 1935 Gijs Perlee (1901-1991, Amsterdam, Netherlands) bought 'De Arabier' to rebuild it in 1948 and make it famous by internationally publishing recordings and staging television appearances. Furthermore 'De Arabier' won many prizes in carousel contests (The Hague, Haarlem, Groningen, Amsterdam) and would at last only play hors compétition at these contests. Though mostly playing in The Netherlands, Perlee also took 'De Arabier' on tour in Denmark, Germany, England, and visited the U.S.A. to play at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City (November 9, 1961). July 21, 1973 'De Arabier' had to be recorded outside the walls of Wisseloord Studios (Hilversum, NL) for the recording of the single 'Mammoth' by Kayak because it would not fit through the doors. On May 21, 2008 De Arabier was bought -along with 11 other carousels- by the museum 'Van Speelklok Tot Pierement' in Utrecht [NL] from 'firma G. Perlee Draaiorgels' (the Perlee heirs).