Rodgers Organ Model 830

[Varhany]

I am rebuilding and reinstalling a Rodgers 830 in a church. The information I need is the procedures for accessing and using the test functions (loud and soft stops, chiff, puff, etc.). I used to know how to do these, but my 78-year old brain won't come up with them! I know that it involves the Set button, the Power switch, and a hidden reed switch near the headphone outlet.
I am also the organist at this church and would like to have this gem in good shape for Sunday next.
You can reply to the Forum, or to [email protected]

Thanks!
Jason Neumann-Grable
(former Tonal Director for Rodgers back in the '70s)

[toodles]

Jason,

The reed switch near the headphone is for resetting the combination action access codes--it isn't normally needed except if you need to change those.

To access the other programmable functions, the Test SW (SW1 on the multi-function board must be in the right hand position).

If you don't have pipes, I won't go into the details for those. If you do, let me know, and I'll get you the info on that.

While pressing the set piston, press the power switch and release both. The power switch will start flashing to indicate the programming mode.

For voice levels (loud or soft), while pressing the set piston press any number 1 piston, release both. Stops that are soft are indicated by a lit drawknob; loud stops are unlit. If a stop can't be changed from off to on or can't turn off, then it can't be adjusted by programming.

For chiff levels, while pressing the set piston, press any no. 2 piston. Then turn on an 8' flute or principal in any division, and strike a note in the lowest octave of that division; the transposer will light up a position, rotate it lower to reduce the chiff, and higher to increase it. Do the same for the rest of the octaves; don't forget to go to 4' and 2' for the higher octaves and the other voice (principal or flute, depending upon which you did first).

It would be best if you got the tech manual for this organ--there is a hard copy on ebay right now, but another of our members might have a pdf scanned copy, as Rodgers scanned all their tech manuals at some point. The hard copy, though, is worth having. It is a very complete manual unlike some of the other models' manuals of this era.