Need info on Allen 123-C3

[Guest]

I hope someone can give me some quick info here. I've seen several posts on the Allen 123C. Yesterday, my rector and I went to the residence of a retired couple who own one and are looking to give it to a church. (Currently I play a Rodgers 880, and the Allen is a little more complete in specs than mine).

First, they told me they bought it new in the 1980's. I've seen info on here that this instrument could be as old as 1971!! Does anyone have any confirmation on this?

Second, this particular model has internal speakers. Might be good for a chapel setting (or residence, as it is now), but I need to know if we can add external speakers to it for church use. The last Allen speakers I saw where for the TC-1, my home church had. Those were "mini-coffins" in size. We don't have the space in our sanctuary to put anything this large. I have no idea what Allen is using for speakers today, and don't know if they can be retrofitted to an instrument of this age.

Third, does anyone know how much more life this organ has left? I read a post last night, where someone mentioned that the vibrations from the internal speaker system can cause damage to the boards, over time, and eventually they will give out!

Last.. overall, does anyone reading this, think this decision to replace my 1980's Rodgers with this Allen 123C a good idea or a bad one?

Thank you for your help.

Rick Waterman

[Jan Girardot]

Hello, Rick;

Here's the listing from my Mother List:
ALLEN 123 1973 DI 32 2 (MOS-1)

Given that the Allen factory can supply just about anything from their older models, I wouldn't worry about its life but rather ask if it does the job musically.

You may want to consider removing the internal speaker system and constructing an external cabinet. As for board damage from internal speakers, I say "horse pucky".

. . . Jan
the OrganGrinder

[Guest]

Hi Jan,

Thanks so much for your reply. So this organ's birthday is 1973! I'm still confused how the people who own it, say they bought it NEW in the 1980s! The one big drawback for me, that a church committe would not understand, is the lack of toe studs!! I love the 10 generals (x2 for dual memory) and 5 each divisionals, that's a lot more pistons and changes than I have on my Rodgers now.. but no toe studs :(

The only problem with just removing the internal speakers is that we need enough sound to support over 100 people in the congregation.

Not having heard this instrument in an environment other than a home, I'm not sure what it would sound like in my parish (it's a small sanctuary). I did like the fact that all divisions are pretty complete, especially having reeds in the pedal division, which I don't have now! The other drawback is a single expression, but I guess I can deal with that and make sure I pick my registrations carefully.

Thanks for your info here.

Rick

[toodles]

1973 is the first year the model was offered--Allen models frequently spanned several years, even as much as a decade, so it could still be offered new from the factory into the late 1970's or early 1980's, and if a dealer had floor stock that can add a few more years get into the mid 1980's as a new sale.

Until sometime in the 1990's Allen did not offer toe studs on self-contained instruments for stock models. Dealers sometimes added these. Toe studs can be added to this organ, it is just fairly expensive because of the cost of the toe studs themselves.

All single-computer digital Allens of this vintage had single expression shoes. If it soulds good in a home environment, it should sound OK in a small church, though external speakers are highly advisable, and can be added to any Allen with self contained speakers. The switches for doing so may already be in the organ. In any case, you can hear it with the internal speakers in the church before you make the investment to upgrade speakers.

Allen speakers have become much smaller than the TC speakers of the 1960's. The HC-14/15 is a standard speaker, and measures about 19 x 19 x 33. Exact dimensions are on the Allen website. These are readily available used.

Good luck!
Toodles.