Help! Just bought a Thomas Californian 263 and the power cord was ripped out

[nickhidy]

Hi,
I recently bought a Thomas Californian 263 and the power cord has been ripped out! I can see where half of it was attached, but I have no idea where to solder the other wire. Could anyone help me identify where to make the attachment? It looked like the power cord was coming out of the wah-wah box on the bottom.







Thank you!

[toodles]

The small metal box adjacent to the large 6-pin circular connector is a circuit breaker--it mounts by twisting the 2 metal tabs on the outside of the main chassis--the power cord probably enters the chassis underneath that circuit breaker--take out the breaker and you'll probably find the connections for the power cord.

[nickhidy]

I connected the power cable. Now, the organ turns on when pressing the power button, but the light fades away then flashes back on. None of the keys play any noise (even with the stops depressed), although the lower manual does produce some clicking noises. Also, pressing the diapason top for the solo/upper manual makes some scratching noises... any ideas what this could be?

[Organkeys Jones]

After reading "Just bought a Thomas Californian" I had to check my calendar! Thought the posting was from the last century! (ha ha) Seriously, if it works it could be a fun organ. Toodles is right about the circuit breaker. When I would junk out spinet organs I would cut off & save the power cord - sometimes it was the best part of the organ.

[nickhidy]

Hahaha, well by “just bought” I really meant picked up off Craigslist for free from someone who was moving....

[nickhidy]

UPDATE: I connected the power cable. Now, the organ turns on when pressing the power button, but the light fades away then flashes back on. None of the keys play any noise (even with the stops depressed), although the lower manual does produce some clicking noises. Also, pressing the diapason top for the solo/upper manual makes some scratching noises... any ideas what this could be?

[andyg]

As you've read above, it's quite common for owners of dead organs to pull or cut the power cord prior to putting it out on the kerb. :(

Diagnosis from a distance is impossible. It could be any number of things. Power supply issues, usually electrolytic capacitors failing. In which case you'd need the schematics to find out what voltages it should be putting out and then you'd have to repair/rebuild as required to get those voltages correct.

But it could also be tone generator issues. If that's broken, then it's probably off to the dump as you won't find the parts anywhere.

Scratchy noises are often contacts, so all of these - and I do mean every contact, every key and stop - will need cleaning.

The Californian 263 is a nice sounding organ when it's all working, but it is around 45 years old now and Thomas wasn't the best built or most reliable of instruments when new, so issues are to be expected. Only you can decide just how much work to put into it.

If you want THIS organ, then stick with it for a bit and see what you can do. If you just want AN organ, there are thousands of working ones out there nation-wide, with most at low prices or free.

[tucsondave]

If the power cord was cut perhaps other parts were removed. You might also check to see if the 12 plug-in tone generators are still present. They are on the keyboard shelf near the back of the organ.
td