Sherlock Manning 21 Stop Reed and Restoration

[Valiant Farmer]

Hi all,
I have pulled a reed out of a Sherlock Manning action, and it seems to have a strange shape to it, a sharp bend 1/4 from the tip. Stranger still, all the rank of reeds have that shape. I have put up a picture of one of reeds. What stop is this connected to? It is the middle front rank.
The other photo is showing all there is of the action! I do have the stop board, but a link has gone missing, I may have to fabricate quite a few things! Installing a manual etc...
Nico (Organfella), I have gone over your old post - https://organforum.com/forums/forum/...anning-21-stop and I believe that this is identical. Is the sound of the organ worth it? Which of Rodney's organs is it comparable to? As I go on, I will need to know which rank gets what name, and so forth. 5 ranks bass - includes Harp Aeoline - 6 ranks treble.
I have a few ranks of pedal bass reeds, which I will be taking on the challenge of building a Sub Bass with, once I have relined all the pallet valves to test to see if it is worth restoration:-) It will be going into a Estey Z-56 case, which was used to power 7 full ranks of reeds, so air will be no problem.
Also, if a rank is too 'reedy', is revoicing possible by altering the tounge position?
Many thanks!
Joshua

[nutmegct]

Hi Joshua. I'm no expert, but the reed you show looks much like reeds in my old George Woods organ, I *think* in the sub-bass.. So to me, it's "normal".

That's all you have left of the action? Wow - I admire your abilities and fortitude!
Tom M.

[SubBase]

This is a kind of voicing curve to make the sound less reedy. A short arc is often for a flute set. A longer curve is for a string tone. No arch at all is the reediest.

[Organfella]

Joshua. You have a nice sounding organ there. These Canadian built instruments are worth spending some time on. The Sherlock-Manning is probably not as antique as the Esteys and others but they are good organs. My one sounds much like the Karne - take a listen to some of Rodney's recordings on the Karne. Interesting thing about the Sherlock is the folding treadle assembly. You can fold them away completely and slide the cover in place and unless you know, you may think the organ has no treadles - nifty little idea... Check out this feature in the attached picture. The other feature is the beautiful oak finish. I trust you have the complete case, including the four cofe balls that fit on top of the pillars and the upper case. Two on mine are missing. Or perhaps originally there were candle trays mounted on the pillars... I have attached a picture of the organ after restoration. Enjoy!
Luck!

Nico

[Valiant Farmer]

Thank you for that. Is it more like Karn 2 or Karn 3? Is the Piccolo rank very prominent for being buried in the rear swell? I will be installing the action in an Estey Z-56 case, so may alter the sound slightly. Will be working on pallet valves to test whether or not it is worth it.

[Organfella]

I would be unable to answer your question since I do not know too much about the Karn except that the Sherlock sounds similar. Perhaps Casey or Rodney will be able to assist here. The Piccolo as far as I remember is quite crisp but the organ is currently in mothballs and not readily accessible so I can check for you. I also have another Canadian built Bell which equally sounds similar to the Karn. Did you disassemble the Sherlock case?
Nico

[Valiant Farmer]

That's alright. I am serious, that and the stop board is all I was given, which was all the donors were given! No sign of a case anywhere. I was given an action, Mason and Hamlin 50, which was blowerised and no sign of a case either.
Do you have a ROS register number for your Bell? I have a Bell, I think it is model 610, it is just like this one, but it doesn't have Swell-to-Pedal. and no pipe top.

[Organfella]

My Bell Registration Number 5607.

[Valiant Farmer]

That Bell has good specs! When I said my Bell was like this one, I thought I had put a link...here it is https://www.facebook.com/groups/1081...87381348015965
Thank you for your time!

[Organfella]

Here is what I built from a Weaver action. Used an electronic organ case and built the pedals and cover panels. The pictures were taken while in progress. The old Weaver action produces a very nice sound. The bellows also came from a different donor organ and were recovered with home made cloth - thick unbleached linen soaked in a kind of flexible wall coating, a kind of silicone paint-like stuff. Bizarre and ugly but it works... How long it will last is another question but who cares? It was a fun project.
Nico