More info regarding Gulbransen Drawbars

[james]

Guys,</P>


I am not all that familiar with the Gulbransen models that have the drawbars except for the large Rialto II. I noticed a Paragon on Ebay recently, and I once knew but have forgotton why these models have two grey color drawbars on the lower manual group. The upper manual ones seem to be just like those on a Hammond. I was shocked when I was young when I learned of the Gulbransen Organs, and noticed some of the modelshad drawbars such as the Hammond. I thought Hammond had a patent on them, and I was wondering how long that was in effect. I remember reading their ads saying the drawbars were patented. </P>


Thanks for your input. Some of the time if refreshes the memory, and sometimes I just want to know. I would have a large collection of brochures if I had kept all of mine from years back. I thought I had worn them out as much I as I enjoyedstudying them over and over. As one of my sayings, hindsight comes too late these days.</P>


James</P>

[jimmywilliams]

Re: More info regarding Gulbransen Drawbars



James,</P>


President, Paragon (some of them), Theatrum, Rialto II, and Palacehad drawbars. With Gulbransen drawbars, generally the upper manual had all the standarddrawbar pitches (including the 1-1/3 that was NOT available on the older lettered model organs); the lower manual did not include the 16 or 5-1/3. Unlike the Hammond, Gulbransen did not have pedal drawbars (to the best of my knowledge).</P>


I am not sure what the grey drawbars on the Paragon are for. I know what you are talking about as almost all the photos of the paragon I have collected include them, but the service manuals/schematics I have do notcover them. I'll have to dig around again when have some time.</P>


A patent on a drawbar in and of itself would almost be like having a patent on a slide potentiometer - which doesn't seem likely. I'm no lawyer so maybe it was possible that Hammond had some sort of patent in regards to their particular implementation of the concept at one time? A lot of portable combo organs from the 1960s had drawbars as well, the Vox Continental probably being one of the more well known examples.</P>


-jim</P>

[james]

Re: More info regarding Gulbransen Drawbars



-jim.</P>


Thanks for your info. I do remember knowing at one time what the two grey drawbars were for, but now I just don't. That is why I find this form so interesting is that others can often share the info we are seeking. Myabe Andy can assist us here.</P>


Time changes so many things, but I still wish I had made a collection in an office file cabinet for my organ brochures and all info from way back when. I started studying organs as a hobby as well as learning to play while in my teens. I remember so well when it was the quality of sound alone that made a particular organ a possible purchase by a customer.</P>


James</P>

[andyg]

Re: More info regarding Gulbransen Drawbars



Hammond had a patent dating from 1934 for the drawbars but it would have expired in the late 1950's or early 1960's (can't recall if it was for 25 or 30 years).</P>


Gulbransen used the grey drawbars on the Paragon and President for the tempo and volume of the Select-a-Rhythm unit. IIRC, the Theatrum and Palace used rotary knobs for this, as did all non-drawbar Gulbransen organs, of course. I remember this well, as the President I usedto play in a hotel had a rhythm on/off button that wouldn't latch on, so you had to use the volume drawbar all the time to effectively turn it off. I did get the management to have the organ serviced once. The engineer was there all day fixing all the niggly things with it, but it played like a dream after that.</P>


Andy</P>
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[back52887]

Re: More info regarding Gulbransen Drawbars



Either Estey or Minshal, I think Estey, had drawbars in the middle 50s. I vaguely remember playing one and that the basic flute voice it used had stringy overtones.[N]</P>


Lee</P>