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Baldwin Model 5 Help

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  • Baldwin Model 5 Help

    I recently acquired a Baldwin Model 5 church organ and a large speaker/tone cabinet. The organ does not power up however the amp in the speaker cabinet does. Any help on what might be a logical place to start or check is appreciated.

  • #2
    Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



    You might start by ordering the service manual from MusicElectronics in Springdale, Arkansas, which is the only place in the world that supports these older Baldwins.</P>


    Then begin your troubleshooting by checking for the presence of all power supply voltages. You'll probably find one of them missing, which will cause the generators to be dead. Careful though, this is a vacuum tube unit and there are very high voltages in there, up to several hundred volts. That is DEADLY voltage!</P>


    You can actually get a fully rebuilt generator from MusicElectronics. The old one can be removed by simply unplugging all the connectors and unbolting the chassis (very heavy though). You return the old one to them in the carton they use to ship you the rebuilt one. However, I'm not sure they'll ship it directly to the end-user, may have to go through a qualified technician.</P>


    Be warned, though. This is not that great an organ and you may not want to have that much money sunk into it. There are other things that can go wrong, even after you get it running, such as key contact troubles. But if this is a labor of love, you should get the service manual and just go for it.</P>


    John</P>
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    John
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    *** Please post your questions about technical service or repair matters ON THE FORUM. Do not send your questions to me or another member by private message. Information shared is for the benefit of the entire organ community, but other folks will not be helped by information we exchange in private messages!

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds...97551893588434

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



      thanks for the tip on finding a service manual, it always is a big help to have the right information, As for the organ its more of a challenge then anything else, not wanting to put a lot of money into it as you noted they are not too much in demand for a number of reasons. I thought it might be something easy or a common failure for this model.</P>

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      • #4
        Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



        I don't know if this is the same organ model that I fixed that was dead, but the one I fixed had a blown resistor. The resistor is of a type that is in a metal channel that is screwed to the chassis... the metal is silver colored. One section of the resistor opened up and it fed all the generators and also biased the power amp tubes which were glowing dull red because of the problem. The resistor I believe is supposed to be 700 ohms and was wide open. There are several of these resistors in the unit of different values. They are wirewound and crimped in a flat channel of metal with tabs sticking up for connections. With the power off for a while, check each resistor and each section of some that have taps. If you find one that is say over 10K be suspicious...</P>


        Do be careful as there are lethal voltages in these organs.</P>


        Let us know what you find.</P>

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



          The power amp does not even power up, however the power line is hot when the switch is turned on but nothing else show any signs of being alive(no tube glow, transformer hum). I did pull the panel on the amp to see if there was any thing obvious such as burned componets, leaking caps or loose wires, nothing stood out.</P>
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          • #6
            Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



            If you get nothing at all, suspect the main transformer or, if present, a fuse in the circuit ahead of the transformer. I assume you have a volt meter and some basic knowledge of electrical circuits. Please do be careful. You can get killed poking around in this kind of equipment.</P>


            As I said earlier, having the service manual will pay off. You can trace circuits without one, but the book makes it so much easier.</P>


            Glad you understand that you don't want to put much money into this. It really is quite old and obsolete, and wasn't much of an organ to begin with. They are big and sort of pretty, though. If all else fails, you might use the console as a base for a good MIDI organ.</P>


            John</P>
            <P mce_keep="true"></P>
            John
            ----------
            *** Please post your questions about technical service or repair matters ON THE FORUM. Do not send your questions to me or another member by private message. Information shared is for the benefit of the entire organ community, but other folks will not be helped by information we exchange in private messages!

            https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds...97551893588434

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



              John, I did check the fuse and it showed continuity. so it make sense to check the main transformer.</P>


              I got a service manual off of ebay today, so I'll wait until it gets here before I go poking around.</P>


              I most likely will take it apart even if I get it working, the tone cabinet is a huge box, I don't think it was the one that matches this model organ as its a different color and has a more "modern" look. Just don't have room for it.</P>


              I'll keep everyone posted if I have any success, either way there will be a service manual up for sale when I'm finished.</P>
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              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help

                Do a simple continuity check of the transformer primary while waiting for the manual. Transformers are pretty reliable normally... Switches and connectors are not... Also sometimes there is an interlock switch that disables power when a panel is removed...

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help

                  Looks like a dead transformer in the generator power supply.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help

                    Forgot to ask, anyone have or know of a soruce for the generator power supply or transformer. the numbers on the transformer are C512 10311B.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



                      Handy,</P>


                      The folks at MusicElectronics might be able to help you. They may be able to sell you just the transformer, or it may be more reasonable to buy a complete rebuilt generator unit from them, then you'd know you have a fully functional generator. If you pay big money for a new transformer only to find that there is something else wrong, you've wasted it.</P>


                      I once had a transformer rebuilt by some company in California. This was for an ancient Conn organ that was dear to the customer. This was probably 10 or 15 years ago and it cost hundreds of dollars back then. But that would be a possibility, if other avenues fail.</P>


                      You might try finding an identical organ to rob parts out of. That would be cheaper in the long run than buying individual parts. However, there's no guarantee that parts you pull from the other organ would be any good.</P>


                      Just remember my warnings at the very beginning -- don't get killed, and don't sink more money into it than you can afford. It's not going to be much of an organ no matter what you do to it!</P>


                      John</P>
                      <P mce_keep="true"></P>
                      John
                      ----------
                      *** Please post your questions about technical service or repair matters ON THE FORUM. Do not send your questions to me or another member by private message. Information shared is for the benefit of the entire organ community, but other folks will not be helped by information we exchange in private messages!

                      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds...97551893588434

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



                        Is the primary of the transformer open when tested with an ohmmeter?</P>


                        If there is not evidence of heating, then just sometimes there is a break of the primary lead coming to a terminal board or splice to the lead wire very near the junction.</P>


                        Sometimes one can pull out enough of the winding to resolder the lead.</P>

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



                          As of April 30 2008, there's a complete Model 5 power supply for auction on eBay. It looks very clean, a lot better than mine ever was. If you still need it, this is definitely rare.</P>


                          Bob M.</P>

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help

                            Bob, thanks I've been watching that one. Was listed as a buy it now for $100, now is listed as an auction starting at $10 plus shipping...which is more in line with what I'm willing to pay.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Baldwin Model 5 Help



                              Handy,</P>


                              Much better idea. If you are indeed "handy" you can probably swap this out and have the organ come alive again!</P>


                              Then you'll probably discover any number of other things wrong with it, each one a new challenge. But that's what life is all about, right?</P>


                              John</P>
                              <P mce_keep="true"></P>
                              John
                              ----------
                              *** Please post your questions about technical service or repair matters ON THE FORUM. Do not send your questions to me or another member by private message. Information shared is for the benefit of the entire organ community, but other folks will not be helped by information we exchange in private messages!

                              https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds...97551893588434

                              Comment

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