Repair of an Old Allen theater Organ

[Odedeji Babajide]

I am a new member to this forum, I greet you all from Nigeria. Someone donated an Allen organ to my village church, hence its not functioning well. I need help on technical support as i myself am a trained organ engineer with Tamburini pipes orga, crema, italy and Rodgers, johannus, Organs. I attached few photo to help identify the organ

[andyg]

Perhaps a photo of the whole organ, rather than the labels, and a full photo of the serial number plate, please!

All we cam really say so far is that it's a 3 manual digital, custom built instrument.

[John Vanderlee]

Not functioning well does not say if it works at all, or if something specific is amiss? More details please!

[Admin]

Unfortunately, the model number is not completely visible in your photo. Ending in '20' though would most likely make it a MOS-1 model, perhaps a 620?

[beel m]

If 3 manuals and MOS-1, it'd be 920, unless they had a theatre version of the 3M 2C 632, which I don't recall.

[samibe]

It looks like it is a Allen 920 and was offered for sale a few years ago. Along with an RMI keyboard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqbs8t0N_Mo

[AllenAnalog]

The name on the email address on that video matches one of our member's name so perhaps he can shed some light on how it got to Nigeria. Interesting that Aram Basmadjian asks to be kept up to date on the organ's location. It looks like the RMI piano was connected to the organ, based on the cable visible in the video.

[John Vanderlee]

And as an aside: I wonder what the story is behind that organ.....
https://journals.shareok.org/theatreorgan/issue/download/59/Theatre%20Organ%2C%20June%201971%2C%20Volume%2013% 2C%20Number%203

[AllenAnalog]

Totally off the OP's topic but relevant to your link. Imagine my surprise and delight to read a story on page 39 of that magazine in the Rocky Mountain Chapter News about MY Allen theater organ! I knew about the concert but had not seen this mention of it before. Billy Nalle signed the inside of the console after the program.

Back to the nameplate on the organ needing repair. According to information on the web, Stillman H. Rice (former president of ATOS) eventually retired to Fort Pierce, Florida and passed away in 2009. His son lives and works in Daytona Beach, FL. The December, 1967 edition of Theatre Organ Bombarde magazine mentions Rice's custom 3-manual Allen theater organ on page 34. Obviously it was an analog predecessor of the one that is the topic of this thread.

[Odedeji Babajide]

[Odedeji Babajide]

Here are further pictures

[jbird604]

As there are six audio channels (or at least six S-100 amps and six speaker cabinets), you might begin by checking to see if all these are working properly. Two of them are just for the solo stops, the other four should sound with various stops of the other divisions. Beyond that, if you will make a good list of the things that don't seem to work correctly, maybe we can point you in the direction of the solution.

There isn't much on the Allen tech site about the 920 (if that is what it really is), but it should be a three-system MOS setup with doubling on the accomp and great, but not on the solo, and possibly not on the pedal either. As with any MOS system, troubleshooting should start with the power supplies. All voltages should be verified at the correct DC levels, and you should make sure there isn't more than a few thousandths of a volt of AC ripple on any of the MOS supply outputs. (The 12 volt supply is unregulated and may run anywhere from about 11 volts to about 16 volts, and may have several hundredths volt of AC.)

If voltages are OK, the standard maintenance/cleanup procedures need to be done -- removing, cleaning, lightly lubricating, and re-seating all connectors of every kind in the system, whether plug-in or screw-on. Pots, wherever they are found, need to be exercised. Switches may need cleaning.

This is not a strictly classical organ, of course, but it should produce some great sounds that will be quite useful in worship, once you have it in great condition.

[John Vanderlee]

I know we're totally going off topic but all his had a familiar ring to it! I had that organ in my possession once!!
I now recall it was donated to our group, we cleaned it up and sold it cheaply, just to get it a new home. I drove it from NY to Michigan! Permit me to recall here what an acquaintance reminded me of:

An older Allen TO has shown up in Nigeria, with a
Stillman Rice name plate attached. I'm assuming
that would be the Allen we set up in Michigan after
you delivered it from New York. The receiver of that
organ sold it to a church in Philadelphia. He later
obtained a classical Allen.
Believe that 900 series organ has MOS 2 era
computers. It had an Allen electronic piano,
Deagan tubular chimes, Allen “tower” reverb,
and multiple HC type speakers. When booted
up, the organ played quite well, very few bugs.
Could have been serviced by the Grand Rapids
dealer who is very familiar with that generation
of Allens. There were many sold in the Grand
Rapids area by Don Westfield. When Don retired,
the technician became the dealer.
That organ had been played by George Wright,
venue unknown.
It's a shame it ended up in Nigeria. Should be
playing in a home or public venue here.

[Admin]

I think what matters is the organ found a new home, not what part of the world that home is in.

[John Vanderlee]

That is absolutely true.
Regarding where it is though, I would recommend that the organ organ be kept in a proper environment. What I heard from an Allen acquaintance is that instruments destined for the tropics are "tropicalized" for that environment. With its origin being northern US based ownership etc. that may need to be a consideration. Then again I know very little about the climate in Nigeria.

[you795a]

Yes, this is true. Allen does "Tropicalize" organs that are going to certain locations. They mark them with a rubber stamp.