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Greetings, fellow travelers,
This is my "new" 1899 Kimball parlor organ. I found a warranty sheet inside that says it was delivered on May 17, 1899 and was guaranteed for five years. This is my first experience with a reed organ. Happily most everything works. I had to replace the treadle straps first. Then there was a terrible vibration in the bass which proved to be the swell shutters and linkages chattering. I used a ponytail retainer loop below the keyboard to put a tiny bit of tension on it.
The organ is literally falling apart. I decided to look inside it, so I turned the quick-fasteners and pulled the back off and set it aside. A few minutes later, the panel collapsed with a clatter. The glue is gone... Then I went to put the top on and wondered why the mirror was chattering. That was because the entire high top had spread apart during transport. Pushing on the ends of it trimmed it up so the mirror stopped rattling and the top fit. I have some glue work to do on this old princess.
I also took the panel under the keyboard off and looked beneath the keys. There was no dust, dust bunnies, coins, children's toys, etc. under there at all. Remarkably clean.
All the stops work, including the Vox Humana which whirs slightly as it runs and, of course, has no effect with the back off. The stops are: Principal, Diapason, Dulcet, Bass coupler, Bass forte, Vox Humana, Treble Forte, Treble coupling, Echo Horn, Melodia, and Celeste.
Pumping is almost a cardio workout. I'll need to rebuilt the bellows, and the mechanism needs felting. I found no rat mess or insect evidence inside the organ and the wood work is remarkably intact. There was a paper sticker in the center of the organ that lists the patents and says "How to take this organ apart." The only legible part below is "Remove the top." What fun!
This is my "new" 1899 Kimball parlor organ. I found a warranty sheet inside that says it was delivered on May 17, 1899 and was guaranteed for five years. This is my first experience with a reed organ. Happily most everything works. I had to replace the treadle straps first. Then there was a terrible vibration in the bass which proved to be the swell shutters and linkages chattering. I used a ponytail retainer loop below the keyboard to put a tiny bit of tension on it.
The organ is literally falling apart. I decided to look inside it, so I turned the quick-fasteners and pulled the back off and set it aside. A few minutes later, the panel collapsed with a clatter. The glue is gone... Then I went to put the top on and wondered why the mirror was chattering. That was because the entire high top had spread apart during transport. Pushing on the ends of it trimmed it up so the mirror stopped rattling and the top fit. I have some glue work to do on this old princess.
I also took the panel under the keyboard off and looked beneath the keys. There was no dust, dust bunnies, coins, children's toys, etc. under there at all. Remarkably clean.
All the stops work, including the Vox Humana which whirs slightly as it runs and, of course, has no effect with the back off. The stops are: Principal, Diapason, Dulcet, Bass coupler, Bass forte, Vox Humana, Treble Forte, Treble coupling, Echo Horn, Melodia, and Celeste.
Pumping is almost a cardio workout. I'll need to rebuilt the bellows, and the mechanism needs felting. I found no rat mess or insect evidence inside the organ and the wood work is remarkably intact. There was a paper sticker in the center of the organ that lists the patents and says "How to take this organ apart." The only legible part below is "Remove the top." What fun!
Think I'm going to clean the reeds next, as I can get to them with swell shutter propped up and the mute doors held open with the crescendo, even with the upper mechanism still in the organ. How does one identify a particular reed? Hold the key and feel for suction? (This is a suction organ.) Is there any consensus that an ultrasonic cleaner is a good way to clean the reeds?
. Happened to me...!
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