Small pipe organ refurbishing project ideas?

[MD1032]

Hey all,

I just visited formerHornist today in northern NJ (I'm in central jersey) to look at his organ listed here:

http://organforum.com/forums/thread/53261.aspx

Here's some pictures I took today:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t=DSC_3105.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t=DSC_3107.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t=DSC_3097.jpg

All in all, I'd say it's one of the coolest organs I've ever seen. It's certainly the most compact. There's a built-in regulator in that chest there and the whole chest is no bigger than a typical desk. There's four ranks on there:
4' Dulciana
2 2/3' (which functions as a 4' octave borrowing the bottom 7 notes from the Dulciana)
4' wooden stopped flute/diapason who knows
2' Chimney Flute

And as he mentioned, there's a rack on the back for adding the bottom 12 notes of an 8' Gedeckt rank for some pedal.

Everything looks like it's in good shape. The blower is superb, extremely quiet. The console's not brand new, but it's in pretty good shape, and it has combination memory.

The thing it does need is a relay. I don't know anything about that, but there's a guy in my area, an organbuilder who services a bunch of organs in the area, that could probably help me. Anybody have idea what's involved in that, though? The chest is DE.

Still, I think it's awesome. If I can convince my parents to move this thing into our house, it would be a neat project, I think, with really cool (and usable) results.

Any ideas?

[FrenchHorn8]

Re: Small pipe organ refurbishing project ideas?

MD1032, if you're looking to make relays as cheap as possible, you should go with a diode matrix.  I can give you instructions on how to build them.  It's very simple and will cost you less than $100 for the whole organ.  The organ looks like it has a lot of potential.  I would definitely add 12 notes to finish out the Gedeckt, 12 notes to complete the Dulciana, and 7 (or 19 notes) to the 2 2/3.  Eventually, you'd want to add a 16' extension to the flute and maybe a reed, shades, strings, or whatever you feel like doing.  It looks like there are toe holes for a 1 3/5 too.  Maybe you could put a 2' Gemshorn in there.  I hope you are able to use this organ.  Just know that this project will take over your life!

[KleinErzahler]

Re: Small pipe organ refurbishing project ideas?



A nice little organ.  Any movement on this organ project for you?  Inquiring minds want to know!

 

      - Nate