On Friday 01 August 2025 a group of 21 members of Kenton & District u3a made their way to The Musical Museum in Brentford, West London. This was a chance to look at their amazing selection of music making machines dating from the early 19th Century up to the present day.

There is an amazing array of musical instruments and inventions, including self-playing pianos and violins, pipe organs, music boxes, gramophones, keyboards, synthesizers and more. We were able to see and hear instruments and inventions that have captured, replayed and generated music from past centuries to the present day. A piano that can reproduce performances recorded by world-famous pianists was of particular interest.

As well as seeing Nipper – the HMV dog – and hearing his story, we were able to see a selection of juke boxes from mid 20th Century that some of us remember.

For contemporary music fans (and gadget enthusiasts), there was a whole gallery devoted to the history of music synthesis and Korg electronic instruments from the 1950s to the present day.

All these and more were demonstrated by their amazing volunteers on a fully guided tour.

Our visit concluded with a visit to the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, which was linked to a Steinway & Sons Grand Piano.

We finished with a short concert on this wonderful instrument.

Our next visit is scheduled for Monday 29 September 2025 to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.