Estey H (probably) what can anyone tell me please? I am new to this.

[lancertheprancer]

Hello Organ People, new member here, I have acquired this Organ maybe five years ago. Mostly works but has broken stop knobs and a few other bits an pieces. From other pictures on the internet it looks like an Estey H model, but for some reason there is no Maker's brand on it anywhere. The only numbers I can find stamped on it are a 104 on the treble end, 742 between the Knee lever things, and 22 on a wooden bracket bass end.
It has 11 stops, is there a way of finding what each stop is meant to be.
I'm not sure what else I should ask but what can people tell me.
Thanks

[Organfella]

Hello and welcome! I cannot answer your question but perhaps Casey will weigh in sometime and comment on your organ. It does look like a nice, basic model and perhaps would need a bit of TLC but this is always to be expected from these old ones. The cabinet looks solid but the keyboard will need some attention, although the keys look pretty level - a good sign - besides the obvious aspects you mention. While you wait for better inputs, play around with the stops while you enjoy the sounds. The easiest ones to find will be the couplers, the sub bass (if fitted) and perhaps the Vox Humana. Mark them with a suitable label (sharpie on masking tape works). The others you can still enjoy by selecting the ones producing the best sound for whatever you are playing. Also check the functioning of the knee swells (you mentioned them). They normally affect the overall volume volume.

Again welcome to the mob!
Nico

[Valiant Farmer]

Hello there! You definitely have a Parlour style Estey H and it looks like it is a smaller action then some of them, and again Casey can tell you the exact action. The specs will be found in the book "Reed organs on Parade". Your organ looks a bit rough (under the lid), but shouldn't be too hard to fix once you know what's wrong and have the supplies on hand! It is a very rewarding (and addictive!) hobby.
Check out this link. This has the most common Estey 11 stop action.
https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php/ro...11046&itemID=1
Joshua

[SubBase]

Estey H-33.

[SubBase]

I have no idea why it's upside down, but you appear to have an H-33

[lancertheprancer]

Thanks SubBase, I'm not sure if it is just me but it look like you posed two images but my computer isn't displaying them

[myorgan]

My computer isn't displaying them either. Let me see if I can get them to work.

Michael

[lancertheprancer]

Thank you all for your replies so far.
I had various covers off to have a look at it a couple weeks ago, I assume the couplers are the ones that make the octave lower and octave higher notes play with the ones you press. Is the Vox Humana the one that releases a "brake" on a little rotating flap? I speculated that it might be called a tremolo, but I just guessed that from my knowledge of other kinds of organs.
If there is a Sub Bass, what does that do?
The poor thing had a bit of a hard time after the church it came from was closed (Southbrook Anglican, Qld Australia if you were wondering), it was stored in the church hall at Pittsworth Anglican and I think some of the children may have been a bit rough, but anyway it happens. What do people use to put white tops back on the keys?
Thanks again
Lance

[myorgan]

I had various covers off to have a look at it a couple weeks ago, I assume the couplers are the ones that make the octave lower and octave higher notes play with the ones you press. Is the Vox Humana the one that releases a "brake" on a little rotating flap? I speculated that it might be called a tremolo, but I just guessed that from my knowledge of other kinds of organs.

So far, Lance, you're right on target.

If there is a Sub Bass, what does that do?

When a particular stop is pulled, it activates the reeds in the Sub Bass box. Presumably, there are only an octave or so of reeds (perhaps 2 octaves), and they sound one octave lower than the key you're playing. I'm not sure if they're affected by the mechanical couplers or not.

What do people use to put white tops back on the keys?

If the original keys are ivory and are missing, you might be able to find a piano or organ repair person who can find donor keytops to replace them. Ivory is illegal to buy or sell in most countries today, but if you can find old stock for restoration purposes, that shouldn't be an issue. It depends on the laws of your country.

Hope that helps.

Michael

[SubBase]

Trying again

[myorgan]

It worked that time, Casey.

Michael

[Valiant Farmer]

If there is a Sub Bass, what does that do?

Basically, the Sub Bass reeds are larger then the standard reeds and produce a bigger, louder sound that will fill out the sound of the rest of the organ. I have attached a photo of two reeds. The one on the right is the normal size of reed that will be in your organ, and on the left is a reed out of a pedal board and measures just under 5 1/2". Both of those reeds produce the same pitch! The Sub Bass reeds however are only around 2/3rds of that size, but it gives you a bit of an idea!
Joshua

[Organfella]

I have a dear friend who is blind and a piano repairer/tuner. He gave me a box full of old piano keys. The are fine for replacing/restoring damaged organ keys - but they are not ivory... You might even get away with scrounging some off an old electronic keyboard.
Luck!
Nico

[lancertheprancer]

So I am learning quite a bit in the posts on this topic, very helpful.
So I took the top off the cabinet today and, armed with a bit better knowledge than I had last time I did this, I had a better look and fiddle with the stops and things.
I have worked out that from Bass end to treble end my stops are:
1: Sub Bass 16',
2: Bass Coupler,
3:Something 8',
4: Something 4',
5: I am guessing this is what is called a Forte, it opens a flap somewhere and the sound gets louder,
6: Vox Humana/(tremolo is kind of what I am used to from Pipe Organs and Electrical Organs but I will say Vox Humana if it is the right term),
7: I presume Forte II,
8: something 4',
9: something 8',
10: something 8',
11: treble coupler.
Left Knee swell progressively opens more stops the harder you press it,
Right knee swell is connected to number 7

I am filled with questions the more I examine this instrument, but here are a couple:
Why is Sub Bass only on one octave?
In the image posted by SubBase/Casey, the stops seem slightly different to what I have worked out here, does this mean my organ could be something else?
What is meant by the "Action" of a reed organ?
and finally for this post, are the numbers stamped on the frame from my original message a serial number or something else, do they mean anything?
Thanks everyone
Lance

[myorgan]

I am filled with questions the more I examine this instrument, but here are a couple:
Why is Sub Bass only on one octave?
In the image posted by SubBase/Casey, the stops seem slightly different to what I have worked out here, does this mean my organ could be something else?
What is meant by the "Action" of a reed organ?
and finally for this post, are the numbers stamped on the frame from my original message a serial number or something else, do they mean anything?

• The Sub Bass is only one octave because that's all it needs to extend the extra octave.
• I'll defer to Casey on exactly what the stop names should be. Alternately, once you determine exactly the model of the organ, the Reed Organ Society Database should have a good list somewhere on one of their organs: https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php/rosdb/ros_search
• The action of the reed organ refers to the mechanical means by which the keys are activated and/or how the stops are engaged. It also refers to the depth of touch on the keys, how far you have to press them before the sound activates, etc.
• The numbers stamped on the frame (& in other areas of the organ) are most likely the serial number. However, all 3 numbers appear to be engraved in the organ. A serial number would generally be stamped with ink on the organ in several places. Perhaps this link will help? https://www.esteyorganmuseum.org/res...y-reed-organs/

Michael

[Valiant Farmer]

I have worked out that from Bass end to treble end my stops are:
1: Sub Bass 16',
2: Bass Coupler,
3:Something 8', - Melodia
4: Something 4', - Viola
5: I am guessing this is what is called a Forte, it opens a flap somewhere and the sound gets louder, - opens front swell
6: Vox Humana/(tremolo is kind of what I am used to from Pipe Organs and Electrical Organs but I will say Vox Humana if it is the right term), - correct
7: I presume Forte II, - opens rear swell
8: something 4', Flute
9: something 8', - Diapason
10: something 8', Vox Jubilante
11: treble coupler.
Left Knee swell progressively opens more stops the harder you press it, - known as Grand Organ
Right knee swell is connected to number 7 - lifts both swells - Swell Organ

Why is Sub Bass only on one octave? - Generally because the lower reeds have less volume and 1 octave is sufficient to provide the 16' louder pitch although the rare organ did have a 17 note Sub Bass.
In the image posted by SubBase/Casey, the stops seem slightly different to what I have worked out here, does this mean my organ could be something else? - I have an Estey O - 83 with different specs than anything listed. They did build different actions than listed.
What is meant by the "Action" of a reed organ? - The section of the organ that screws down to the foundation board, (which transfers air to the action from the bellows,) which contains the reeds, keyboard and stopboard essential to it making a sound.

Hope this helps!

[hp_lovecraft]

What is meant by the "Action" of a reed organ?

When you ordered the reed organ, you would pick the case, and then the action, which is to say "the internals".

For the "H Chapel" case, I see 4 actions listed.
33-11 stops
38-13 stops
97-16 stops
98-18 stops

The case remained mostly unchanged from the 1880s to 1940s. "Chapel" cases are different from parlor cases, in that they are also finished on the back so that they didn't need to be placed against a wall.

[lancertheprancer]

I took some cover off and had a look inside for serial numbers and build sheets and things as per the link from EsteyMuseum.org. I could find nothing on the action anywhere, there are a few different numbers stamped or written in various places, but the only one that is a six digit number is on the upper back cover panel in pencil, 320845, assuming then that this is it, that would place it somewhere between 1900 and 1905 Is this a reasonable deduction?

I also found four white circles that would have been on the face of the stops, they have written on them, Forte, Viola 4ft, Dulcet 8ft, Salcional 8ft. By the sound of it there doesn't seem to be a conclusive way of determining what exactly they should be, but I thought it was interesting to find these things anyway.

One last question for this post, Valiant Farmer/Joshua said back a few posts that this was a parlour style organ, but hp_lovecraft just previously that this was a Chapel organ, just curious, what is the difference? and does it really matter, and if so which one is it?

Thanks again everyone for the help. I am hoping I can get it to look more presentable in the next few months, thus increasing my wife's willingness to have it in the house.
Lance

[Valiant Farmer]

Hi Lance. The Estey actions 33, 38 and 97 were parlor organs, that is the reeds were smaller and the whole organ was quieter. There was a action 97 and 98 that had Philharmonic scale reeds that are more powerful. I can say I have played both styles at a large Resthome and they are both loud against a wall but the Philharmonic organ had twice the power and filled the large room.
I hope that I haven't confused you...
Joshua

[lancertheprancer]

Thanks Joshua, No not confused, just a beginner learning. It seems that you are quite the reed organ enthusiast, (well actually there seem to be quite a few on these pages), appreciate the help. I first came across a reed organ when I was learning the Pipe organ at High School in the early 90's, there was an old unused one in one of the vestries of the school chapel, don't remember much about it except that only one pedal was still connected to the bellows. I thought it would be cool to get myself one sometime if I got the chance. Lance

[hp_lovecraft]

I see the database shows a Estey Chapel #321424 for 1901. and #31495 for 1899. So late 1900 seems likely to me.
The serial is usually on a paper, and stamped somewhere. But those paper tags are very fragile. I don't usually see them and when I do, they often disintegrate in my hand.

Below is a nice archive of different Estey reed organ models. The "H" case came in 2 styles, the "Chapel" is most common. I've seen them with pipe tops.
You can see the list of stops. My chapel is setup like yours, with the couplers at the ends, and the forte and vox in the middle.
Mine was originally missing the white stop labels, but when taking the organ apart, I found most of them inside the organ. It had been sitting in a convent, mostly unused, for most of the last 100 years, so the glues slowly deteriorated.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150218...eedmodels.html