ABSTRACT
The Dallam family were not officially attached to Court, but four members are recorded as working on organs there. For their life and work in general see Bicknell. Thomas Dallam (b.1575) was given responsibility for making 'A Great and Curious present'—an organ which would play automatically—which Queen Elizabeth sent to Sultan Mohamed III to gain his favour. In 1599-1600 Dallam travelled with the instrument to Constantinople, where he erected and demonstrated it with great success. A bill of 63s 10d due to Thomas Dallam, organ maker, appears in the Court Treasurer's accounts for 1606-7. In July 1616 he was ordered to build a 'fair, large and very serviceable double organ' at the Chapel Royal, Holyrood, Edinburgh, prior to the king's visit; £300 was allowed, with a £50 free gift to Dallam for his trouble.
