Monarch Pump organ

[Guest]

There has been a Monarch Pump Organ in my basement for as long as I can remember. It was my great-grandfather's. My grandma doesn't want to get rid of it. It does not work. I noticed a lot of interesting features. There are panels that press into a square piece of wire that moves anoter piece of wire, that presses a key. I am assuming that it is hit with the organist's knee. I know that it is a very old organ, but I would like more information on it. Where can I find a good source for Monarch organ info?

[myorgan]

Re: Monarch Pump organ



[quote user="John30507"]I know that it is a very old organ, but I would like more information on it. Where can I find a good source for Monarch organ info?[/quote]</P>


John,</P>


You're probably looking for the Reed Organ Society. On their page, there is a links page (some of which are outdated), but you should be able to find something there. http://www.reedsoc.org/</P>


[quote user="John30507"]There has been a Monarch Pump Organ in my basement for as long as I can remember. It was my great-grandfather's. My grandma doesn't want to get rid of it. It does not work. I noticed a lot of interesting features. There are panels that press into a square piece of wire that moves anoter piece of wire, that presses a key. I am assuming that it is hit with the organist's knee. [/quote]</P>


The "wires" you're referring to are the knee swells. Those are very common on pump organs. When the organist moves his/her knee outward, it opens a door above the reeds and allows them to vibrate more freely (louder). The right one controls the upper half of the keyboard, and the left one controls the lower half of the keyboard.</P>


If the organ does not work, it is probably because it has something wrong with the pedals or bellows. Considering its age, it probably has never had the bellows re-built. If it's in the cellar, the bellows are probably rotted out due to excess moisture.</P>


You may also find more information about restoration/repair at the following website. I know they have tutorial videos available on eBay and other websites. http://johnsonrestoration.com/</P>


If your grandmother knows you are truly interested in the instrument, it would probably make her day to hear someone restore it and play it for her again. At the time she grew up, live music was generally the only entertainment available. Consequently, the organ probably holds some great memories for her, and she does not want to let them go.</P>


I hope this helps you in your endeavor.</P>


Michael</P>

[back52887]

Re: Monarch Pump organ



In fact, I think you will find that the left knee-kicker is a crescendo; ie as you push it further to the left, it will add stops untill you get to full organ - but the stops themselves will not move. A quick thing to try - If there is a stop in the center called "Vox Humana", make sure it is pushed ALLTHE WAY IN . Even if there were enough suction from the "holy" bellows and reservoir to make the reeds give off a feble sound, the pneumatic motor onan oldVox will bleed it off.[+o(]Good Luck, and get back to us.</P>


Lee</P>

[soubasse32]

Re: Monarch Pump organ



[quote user="back52887"]In fact, I think you will find that the left knee-kicker is a crescendo[/quote]</P>


Many pump organs have inset labels on the knee mechanisms, unless they have fallen out. One organ I have has a label called "Grand Organ" on the left mechanism (a crescendo), and "Knee Swell" on the right one.</P>


I have another pump organ, but it is missing its labels;unfortunatelyI've never heard it play.</P>


I've got yet another pump organ [:)] but it is not here at home, soI don't recallwhat the knee mechanismssay. [:S] I'd suspectthey work just as Lee mentioned, with the crescendo on the left and swell on the right.</P>

[Guest]

Re: Monarch Pump organ



I noticed that the left knee kicker makes a stop wiggle. None of the stops have labes, as nor do the knee kickers. The right knee kicker makes a key wiggle. The organ is on bricks, so it is difficult to move. I have never really paid atention to the organ until now. I was in the basement during yesterday's storms, and I was staring at it and said "Hmmmmm!" I tried to move it, but it almost fell forward, so I just left it alone. I will get my dad to help me move it so I can look at its insides.</P>

[Guest]

Re: Monarch Pump organ

I was playing around with the pump organ again, andI got it to play! I have always been told by family that it hasn't worked for a long time. The pedals are detached from the bellows, so I pulled on the material that attatched the bellows to thepedals, and pumpedfor awhile untilpressure built up, then stopped pumping and played a note. The pressure only lasted longenough for one note. Since the pedals are detatched, I am not able to pump and play. So it seems that the only actual problem is the detatched pedals. There are around 5 stops on each side of the organ. From what I can tellfrom playing with the stops/ keys, one group controls one side, and the other group does the same thing on the opposite side of the keyboard. The stop on the far left makes two of the same keys play on different octaves on the left half of the keyboard. The stop on the far right makes notes sound as I pump. This is all that I have discovered so far. It is incredibly dusty, so it is hard to mess with it for too long without my alergies going crazy.

[Guest]

Re: Monarch Pump organ

There were about 5 dead keys. I took the reeds out with a scaler, and wiped off the dust. I got 1 of the 5 to work. 2 of the other 4 will only work when a certian stop is pulled (I forgot which..) I love the sound of this organ, and I find myself playing it a lot. I called my grandmother and told her that I fixed the pedals and cleaned it up a bit so now it is playable. This organ has great sentimental value to her, so she was very excited to hear that it still works. We were talking on the history of the organ, and she told me that her parents bought it used in the 1930's for $5.