Kimball Broadway R 80, Pump Organ

[Marshall]

I have a Kimball Broadway R 80, pump organ, serial #396350, & was wondering if anyone can tell me what year it was made, where I can get an owner's manual, & if it works good, what it's worth.


Thank you

Marshall

[Larason2]

Welcome to the forum! Usually we refer to the Reed Organ Society database. The answer there is pretty clear:

https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php/ro...d=&type=Search

1918 or so. They didn't come with owner's manuals! They did sometimes come with a pamphlet showing off all the organ models available from the company. If it has been recently restored, it will be worth $100-200. Otherwise, it is valueless, even if it plays. They aren't hard to restore, but it is time consuming (most of the time is restoring the case), and it will cost something like $200 in materials at least. As you see above, they were making about 5,000 organs per year in the tens, in the eighteen nineties 10,000 organs per year, and they were many other companies. So there's lots of these out there, and not much demand.

[myorgan]

I sometimes find information about pump organs at this site: https://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/kimball/

Unfortunately, the only Kimball Organ link there doesn't appear to work (linked above). I also checked the Prelinger Archives, and found this book published in the 1950s: https://archive.org/details/musicformillions00brad There is a free downloadable PDF version, and you might find something about their pump organs in that book.

Michael

[Marshall]

About that Kimball R-80 Broadway. I found a website that had every organ they could find information on, & they publicly published the results online. My Kimball R=80 Broadway was made in 1981, 13 pedals, 2 manuals, is an electric, pump organ, & I found out Kimball no longer makes organs under the Kimball name. My organ works, but does need some repairs, & I would like to get the owner's manual if I can, either a download or physical book if possible. Anyone know where I can possibly get a download or physical manual, or repair manual online for this organ?


Thank you

Marshall

[Larason2]

Ah, well it seems I was mistaken! There's this ebay ad:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223570348213

Seems legit enough! In any case, it won't break the bank.

Usually we don't call them pump organs, as they don't have a bellows that's physically pumped. Neither do I think it is a reed organ. Usually we call the ones like these an electronic organ, or an "analog" organ. From a demo I heard online it sounded pretty good though! Usually the first thing to rebuild is the power supply. Happy fixing!

[Marshall]

Thanks for your reply information. Lucky me, that electric Kimball Broadway R80 organ seems to be working much better, since I tried flipping some of the many toggle switches it has. Now, the top & bottom manual produce ok sound, however, I really need an owner's/operator's manual for this organ. Any help in locating one would be greatly appreciated. I googled it & Ebay had one, but it is now gone/sold. Anyone know where I might be able to get a manual for this electric organ? I believe this organ was made around 1981.

Thank you

Marshall

[Goff]

I have a Kimball Broadway R 80, pump organ, serial #396350, & was wondering if anyone can tell me what year it was made, where I can get an owner's manual, & if it works good, what it's worth.


Thank you

Marshall

Is this what you have?

[Marshall]

Yes that looks like my organ. Thanks for the help. Mine has no legs/front or rear legs on it. I hope that is the way it was made & mine is normal in that respect? Apparently, today while flipping some of the electronic toggle switches, it now seems to be working ok. I just need an owner's/operator's manual to find out which toggle & related switches operate which functions. Any help in getting a manual for this electric organ would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Marshall

[andyg]

Pump organ! Definitely not. The R80 is one of Kimball's home organs from 1981. Mid range model and using all analogue electronics at that time. Some people do see the expression pedal, liken it to the pump pedal(s) on a reed organ or harmonium and so mistakenly call the instrument a pump organ.

Value is zero, regardless of condition, such is the state of the market. Repairing it would therefore be economically unviable - unless the instrument is of sentimental value and you don't mind paying out. There are no spares other than regular electronic components. Service and owner's manuals can sometimes be found on eBay.

Kimball were one of many American manufacturers who stopped making organs in the mid 1980s.

[Marshall]

As all can see, I know nothing about organs, pianos or most other musical instruments, old or new, but I've always loved & appreciated music of all types very much, & always will. This organ was my mom's late second husband's organ. I brought it from their pole barn to my mom's living room. It now seems to be working ok, but I now need an owner's/operator's manual for this organ. Anyone knowing where I might get one can contact me or reply to these messages. My email is *** Thank you for the information, & I tried Ebay & they currently have 0 operator's/owner's manuals available on this organ.



Thank you ('Music soothes the savage beast')

Marshall

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