Silvertone 4704 Console Amplifier Reed Chord Organ, 2 Manuals?

[drbob1]

I thought this was going to be a toy when I bought it to salvage the amp chassis. Then I started to take the key bed apart to try and figure out how it worked... Got a weird little thing from under the top of the cabinet-turns out to be the microphone to amplify the reeds. Yep, this is a 2 manual reed organ with 5X8 chords, IIRC. Amplification is a barely adequate 6AQ5 driven by a pair of 12AX7s (Mullard BTW, those aren't going back). It seemed like most of it worked when I tested it, but the sound was nothing special and not completely in tune with itself. I've gotten more than my money out of with the tubes, and I can always repurpose the chassis and speaker as a little amp...

So, my question: Is it worth reassembling this and trying to sell it as a whole (I'm in the middle of nowhere here, but I could take it to Chicago). The cabinet is all wood, the air box is all wood, nicely screwed together, the cabinet is virtually empty except for volume pedal/amp/speaker... I would have to figure out how to reattach the wires that I cut to get the key bed out (it was SERIOUSLY hard to disassemble this thing).

Just to add a bit to the mystery, the air box/key assembly is labelled "Made in Italy" and has a patent stamp from the Lo Duca company in Milwaukee.

[andyg]

Not sure whether to leave this one here, move it to Reed Organs or to How Much is is Worth?It fits in all three categories!

Bottom line is no, it probably isn't worth the time an effort if you're trying to make a profit from the sale. It's a nice little piece of history if fully working and in tune, but that alone won't find it a ready buyer or a decent value. Being an organ group, we'd love to see it restored rather than parted out but restorations are more a labour of love rather than a way of making money (they're usually quite the opposite!). If you've bought it basically to get the amp and you've already disassembled it and taken out the 12AX7s, then maybe the decision's already made.

[drbob1]

Thanks for posting. If you want to move it, that'd be fine... I agree that it's a shame to take apart something this cool, but last night I thought of a possible solution: the cabinet and the amp aren't critical to the sound and take up a lot of space. Maybe what I can do is utilize the mechanism, maybe with a contact mic if needed to get enough volume, that makes it WAY smaller to store. I just have to figure out some way to keep the keys from falling out. I don't see a market locally and I obviously can't ship, so even selling it for "even money" seems unlikely, although that'd work for me if I keep the vintage tubes and just put in some new ones. I'll have to think a bit more.

[drbob1]

I was able to hook the fan directly up to AC, that's how it's wired in the amp section. I got a nice tone from the keybed/box, although fan noise is more noticeable than in the original cabinet. I just don't have room for the full package, but I think the Lo Duca designed keybed is kind of cool. I need to figure out how to keep the back end of the plastic keys from lifting up on the higher manual but otherwise it'll make a nice toy/recording device. Oh yeah, and rig up a lever to open the air box, since it's silent when that is close up. It's a shame about the cabinet but I just don't think the complete package is really desirable to anyone.

Oh and @andyg, maybe do move this to reed organs, of you would?

[andyg]

Reed organs is perhaps more for Harmoniums and American Organs, both foot pedal operated for the most part, but yours almost fits in there. So over it goes!