Scarborough Fair Collection

{{Short description|Museum in North Yorkshire, England}}

{{About|the museum|the ballad, fairs, and other uses of the term|Scarborough Fair (disambiguation){{!}}Scarborough Fair}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox museum

| name = Scarborough Fair Collection

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| imagesize = 200

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| established = 2008

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| location = Lebberston, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

| type = fairground organs, mechanical organs and showman's engines

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| president = Graham Atkinson

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| publictransit = Scarborough railway station

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| website = [http://www.scarboroughfaircollection.com http://www.scarboroughfaircollection.com]

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The Scarborough Fair Collection is a museum of fairground mechanical organs and showman's engines, located in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, one of the largest collections of its type in Europe.{{cite web|url=https://www.scarboroughfaircollection.com/collection/|title=Our Collection - The Scarborough Fair Collection|work=Scarborough Fair Collection|accessdate=18 August 2019}}

The museum was founded by local Farmer turned entrepreneur and owner of nearby holiday park), Graham Atkinson, who wanted to both indulge his passion for fairgrounds and entertain his holiday park clients. Starting his collection in the late 1980s, the attraction was occasionally open to holiday park residents and enthusiasts until its formal opening in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Fairground-collection-set-to-entertain.3989969.jp|title=Fairground collection set to entertain|author=Laura Crothers|newspaper=Scarborough Evening News|date=17 April 2008|accessdate=12 July 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mikehigginbottominterestingtimes.co.uk/?p=3685|title=Going to Scarborough Fair|work=Interesting Times|date=1 December 2014|accessdate=18 August 2019}}

File:The Iron Maiden (GDSF 2007).JPG, 2007]]

The collection spans vintage cars, miniature vehicles and model railways, but the three cores to the collection are:

• Steam engines: four showman's engines, including The Iron Maiden; a Foden steam wagon; and a Barrows and Co. portable engine
• Fairground rides: including an 1893 gallopers ride, a 1928 rare caterpillar ride, 1933 'Noahs Ark', waltzer, cake walk and dodgem cars
• Mechanical organs: including the 97-key 'Oktoberfest' Gavioli Concert organ, and the 101-key Hooghuys 'Condor' dance organ

There are two theatre organs that feature during open days and weekly Wednesday afternoon tea dances from 13:00. Both instruments are "Mighty" Wurlitzers of 3 manuals and 8 ranks (of pipes) with specifications:{{cite web|url=http://www.cledgriffin.fsnet.co.uk/scarborough.htm|title=Scarborough Fair Collection|author=Cled Griffin|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003174546/http://www.cledgriffin.fsnet.co.uk/scarborough.htm|archivedate=3 October 2011|work=Keyboardnews.com|accessdate=12 July 2010}}

• Granada Theatre, Greenford: English Horn, Tuba, Diapason, Tibia Clausa, Saxophone, Gamba, Gamba Celeste and Flute
• Granada Theatre, Mansfield: Style 'D' Trumpet, Diapason, Tibia Clausa, Clarinet, Violin, Violin Celeste, Vox Humana and Flute