American organ

“Recently you published that 100 years ago Abernyte Kirk purchased a harmonium,” says a Dundee reader. “I wonder if they did not acquire an American organ. Though both instruments use mouth organ reeds there is an enormous difference between them. A harmonium blows whilst an American organ sucks. The best came from France.

“The American organ was designed for the move west on that continent. It was almost indestructible. It quickly became popular in the homes of aspiring working classes in Britain. It was much cheaper than a piano and required no tuning.

“Many of your readers will have seen Goodnight Mr Tom with John Thaw. The instrument he had was just the same American organ I have been trying to describe.”

Longforgan Primary School pupils busy tidying up the village in 1991.