BV with installed Mass Rowe Chimes

[Guest]

I picked up a BV with a Leslie 31H and Mass Rowe Chimes. I've seen a couple chime sets before but never hard wired into the BV upper keyboard. Has anyone ever seen this and could it have been a custom install from Hammond?

[dbsoundman]

Are you the seller from Facebook or did you buy it from that guy? Either way, super cool setup! I'm following this topic for pictures...definitely curious how those chimes are hooked up. I would imagine the "professional-ness" of the hookup will explain whether this was a factory or aftermarket modification.

[BlueOliveB3]

Definitely an aftermarket installation. Units like this were usually dealer-installed, and chime units were usually field-installed. I saw that system on FB...that's a rather rare combination. Would be interesting to see what was used to add chime triggering to the manual, many systems had their own contact array that sat under the key channels. I have an A-105 here with extra contacts for a Maric "Chimes" system that used the percussion and several combined harmonics to create a chime effect. Sadly the switch box for it was badly damaged and essential plastic parts were missing, so when it finally gets on deck for restoration all that will have to just be removed.

[NittyRanks]

Todd who designed the Chimes? Sounds like it was an aftermarket add on.

[Admin]

I would think, and hope, that the chimes are wired to their own contact strip. The manual contacts were not designed to handle the voltages and currents typical of chime units.

[BlueOliveB3]

Todd who designed the Chimes? Sounds like it was an aftermarket add on.

Maas-Rowe. And typically these types of units had their own contact assembly that went under the key channels.

The other common chime vendors were Schulmerich and Deagan.

TP

[toodles]

Mayland also produced chimes using underkey contacts as well as separate keyboard types. Peterson now produces chimes as well.

[NittyRanks]

OK I see. I have never seen one.