Rodgers 960 music rack

[gebohmusic]

The music rack on my Rodgers 960 is not tilted back any when in position. Music will not stay on the rack. I see no way to adjust this. Any ideas on how to remedy this?

[toodles]

The back tilt is built into the bracket--no adjustment is provided. Try taking off the music rack, just leaving the hinges and see if the hinge swings back a bit farther. Maybe there is some junk in one of the U shaped holes that is preventing the hinge from fully seating in the raised position. Maybe the down position stop is interfering with the up position.

[quantum]

My 760 had this exact same problem. I believe the previous owner tried to bend one of the mounting brackets in an attempt to correct this. However, with time and usage parts of the hinge have worn away and eventually one of the locking pins fell off. The plexiglass now rests on the edge of the console lid, creating a better angle to rest music, but with a worn out hinge. It has been something I've wanted to fix for a while now.

In the past, I used small additional piece of acrylic sheet from the hardware store, to create an angled backrest for the music, but it meant the music was on top of the white translucent light diffuser.

[jbird604]

Many many many of the Rodgers organs I've serviced have had that same problem. It seems to be a feature of that style music rack, as it ages the U-shaped pocket enlarges and the desk tilts more and more forward until the music falls into the organist's lap. The hinges can actually be bought somewhere, I want to say Organ Supply in Erie PA, but they only sell to qualified tradesmen and techs. We have replaced them a few times, and I suppose that is the most professional solution, though pricey, and even the new ones will eventually develop the same problem.

I've tried numerous other fixes over the decades. One fix is to loosen the two screws that hold the hinges themselves to the wooden mounting blocks on each end, then insert something quite thick under the hinge bracket at the LOWER screw on each end, thus forcing the hinge to tilt back several degrees further. I can't recall what or how much of it we have used to do this. It would be trial and error. Perhaps start by adding a thick washer under the lower screw and see what happens. Use a thicker one for more back tilt.

A more permanent and creative solution we have used is to built some kind of mechanical device that holds the music rack tilted back at the proper angle. A chain attached to the plexiglass and anchored on the back edge of the top lid will do it. We once removed the entire mess and devised a hand-built all-wood bracket that holds the music desk in place. It's no longer movable, so the organist can't close the rolltop, but that was not important in that case.

It's too bad that these little pieces of brass are such a weak link in an otherwise fine console. When they get wonky it completely takes the joy out of playing!

[quantum]

Have you come across a different style music desk that can easily replace the original one? Preferably something that can use the existing mounting holes, or be placed close to them without need for large modifications to the console.

[jbird604]

Other than the parts from Klann in the catalog linked below by toodles, I don't know of anything. It's not rocket science, of course, so a person could probably find something at a hardware store to build a custom rack mount. It helps to have some good tools to use and a bit of handyman skill.

As I mentioned, I have totally remodeled the rack by making a custom wooden bracket to hold the desk at the right angle. You could even use some hinges and make it so the desk can be folded back out of the way to close the roll top. It just depends on how much engineering you are willing to do.

In reality, the setup Rodgers uses is somewhat flimsy, and almost anything you can build yourself is going to be more durable in the long run, though you may sacrifice the convenience of being able to fold it down neatly.

[toodles]

Klann Organ supply sells a similar hinge that is made of steel--I doubt you would see any wear on it ever. But its L bend at the mounting end is the reverse of the ones Rodger uses, so you would have to reposition the mount on the stop board. Also, their hinge has no down stop, so the rack will rest on the keyboards.

See page 6 of their catalog: https://klannorgan.com/wp-content/up...annCatalog.pdf

Klann has sold to me in the past as a hobbyist. They also have other styles of music rack hinges.

The original were probably built by Syndyne.

[gebohmusic]

Thanks for the input! You've given me some ideas to try.
On another subject - not sure if I should put it here or start a new thread — the combination memory functions — but it is sporadic and slow. Example: if I am on memory 1 and go from general 1 to general 2 it might function or nothing happens until I push general 3. Also, the general cancel will not work sometimes. It always works on the organ division generals — but not always on the combination generals. I did replace the memory battery due to a message that it was low — I was REALLY careful and the memory is working correctly. Would the problem be on the console controller board that the battery is on? This organ sat for about 6 years unused. I've checked the connections that I can see? Any ideas on this?

[jbird604]

It's possible that the pistons themselves are at fault. I have seen quite a few of these get quirky. The type of piston they used during that period can malfunction if a bit of dust gets inside the piston body. You might try blasting it out with some compressed air and working it in and out pretty firmly a few times.

[NoTalent]

You could try Matt Neill at MCN Systems for replacement hinges. He might also have replacement pistons but remember that you (probably) want them engraved; I've seen him advertise unengraved (but lit) ones.