Lynch Family Bellringers
Posters, sheet music and handbells of Lynch Family Bellringers performances in Australia, 1892-1929

MSS 792.70994 L9871p
Posters housed in Map Cabinet

Biographical Note

Handbell ringing became a popular public entertainment following two successful visits to Geelong by the Lancashire Ringers in 1863 and 1866. The Lynch family from Geelong imported their bells from Mears & Stainbank of London. They first toured Australia in 1867 as The Australian Bellringers and later as the Talented Lynch Family, before changing their name to the Lynch Family Bellringers in 1875. The company consisted of Henry Lynch and his four sons, Harry, Robert, George and William.

Contents Listing

1. Poster: 25th year of the famous Lynch Family Bellringers: instrumentalists & vocalists (organised 1867) in their world-renowned campanologian, vocal and humorous concerts .... [plus] the "Hong-Klongs", Javanese piano ... [S.l.: s.n., 1892?] blue&w, 47 x 29 cm.

2. Poster: Town Hall, Adelaide. Four monster concerts ... March 2, 3, 4, and 6. Farewell to Australia. Lynch Family Bellringers glassophonists and vocalists. Organised 1867 ... and their famous English Concert Co. including the world-renowned soprano, Miss Emilie Benson, the winner of the Melba gold medal, 1902 ... Adelaide: Advertiser Print, [1905]. 1 poster in 3 parts: b&yellow, 171 x 89 cm.

3. Poster: Forty[sic.]-third (43) year of the famous, original & only Lynch Family Bellringers ... [with] Lynch Family's new attractions: their English Concert Company [Annie Kinnaird, singer; Harry Baxter, character comedian; William Ambrose Neilson, tenor; Harry Ritter, musical director; Philip Russell, clever society entertainer] and Edison's Dux Bio with the very latest living pictures ... absolutely flickerless 40,000 feet of films ... Melbourne: F.W. Niven & Co., [1910]. 2 posters in 1: red, blue&w, ports., 102 x 77 cm.

4. Poster: Return of the world-famed Lynch Family Bellringers: worlds entertainers [Dorothy Bromley, soubrette & dancer; Viola Renne, English lyric soprano]: glassophonists: special engagement of Will Rollow, Australia's noted comedian ... and the superb silver organ chimes. Melbourne: F.W. Niven, [c1929]. Red, blue&w, ill., ports., 110 x 38 cm.

5. Poster: Lynch Family Bellringers. Glassophonists, instrumentalists, vocalists, organised 1867. New English Speciality Coy. from the principal halls of Great Britain. The glassophone orchestra. [n.d.] Blue, green, red&w, ill., 39 x 35 cm.

6. Score: Sons of dear Australia : sung at the Lynch Family's concerts ... by Mr. Harry Baxter / words and music by A.F. Stanley. Melbourne: Loebel, [1916?]. (6 p.). With the first page of The ANZAC marseillaise at end

7. Score: Dear old Mother Machree: featured ... at the Lynch Family Bellringers' concerts / words and music by Vince Courtney. 3rd. ed. Sydney: Nicholson's, c1921. (4 p.)

8. Score: The best pal of all: sung and played ... at the Lynch Family's concerts throughout Australasia / words by Stan Kerridge; arr. by W. H. Lynch. 3rd ed. Wellington: E.F. Jones, printer, 1925. (3 p.)

9. [Small and medium handbells used by the Lynch Family Bellringers]. 2 bells. 21-24 cm. high.

10. Biographical material (5 p.)

11. Silk programmes

• Adelaide Town Hall Tuesday January 2nd 1877. Grand Vice-Regal command night. Under the distinguished patronage and presence of His Excellency Sir Anthony Musgrave, K.C.M.G. (Governor of South Australia), Lady Musgrave and suite. And last appearance of the celebrated Lynch Family Bell Ringers. Instrumentalists and vocalists, Mr. & Mrs. T. Empson, the popular favorites. Mr. Frank Verten, the clever comedian. Mr. E.S. Hall, pianist ... Concluding with the laughable comedietta of the Pink Domino ... (Advertiser Print, Adelaide) [Printed on left and right edges "Victoria. New South Wales. South Australia. Tasmania. Fiji. Etc." and "Java. Queensland. New Zealand. Western Australia. California. Etc."
• Town Hall, Adelaide. To-night (Monday) March 28, 1892 under the special patronage of His Excellency Lord Kintore, K.C.M.G. (Governor of South Australia), Lady Kintore, and suite. Positively the last night of the famous and only Lynch Family Bellringers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and humourists, (organized 1867) in their popular campanologian, vocal, and humorous performances as given by them with great success throughout the civilised world, assisted by their new and unrivalled English Speciality Organization from the principal halls of Great Britain ... (W.K. Thomas & Co., Printers, Adelaide) [Performers include Mr Henry Ritter, Miss H.E. Randell, Mr J.S. Parlatto, Mr J.E. Collins]

Cheryl Hoskin
July 2009