been Converted P3

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I’ve been Converted Page 3.

This makes the pipes easily de mountable but holds them firmly. The Wind chest and the bellows were screwed to the bottom cross rails. The “Music box” was secured to the top rails with a turn-latch on the bottom of the box.(photo)

When all the units were secured in place, the electrical connections were made from the PCB to the windchest valves, to the crankshaft motion sensor and to the “door open” switch. The crankshaft was connected to the bellows with an adjustable con-rod comprising two hardwood bearing blocks and a screwed rod between them. (photo)

The bellows were connected to the wind chest with a short length of washing machine hose(!) and the reservoir spring (ex Busker) was mounted between hard wood blocks fitted to the top of the reservoir and the two top crossrails. (photo)

Finally the battery was charged and fitted into the Music Box with a piece of ribbon wrapped around it to enable its removal. It was then time to switch on and turn the handle to see if it worked, - And it did! It took a little while to get used to the sequence of using the control buttons to play each note individually for tuning, but careful reading of the instructions soon sorted that out.

All that was needed now was a “posh” front and something to cover the back. I found a piece of perforated aluminium from a radiator panel for the back, and I made a front panel from MDF decorated with a bit of fretwork and mouldings from the local DIY store. The opening in the front panel allows only the “speaking” parts of the pipes to show , thus removing the need to make fancy stopper handles or covers. The front panel hangs on blocks fixed inside the case, so it is easily removable. Finally a hinged top cover was added which closes over the control panel.

I have taken the organ out on several occasions now and have been very impressed with its performance. The sound is crisp and positive, and the ability to play non stop without changing rolls and to select tunes for various occasions is wonderful. I really am converted to MIDI operation, and I would recommend it to anyone who is prepared to have a go. My attempts at organ building have been perhaps a bit basic by some standards, as I am not a model Engineer, and I posses only basic DIY tools, but I have found that a little ingenuity and a dab of Heath Robinson here and there can resolve most problems and result in a satisfactory and rewarding instrument, which looks good enough to go out and impress the public.

The following video by John Smith in the
Amateur Organ Builders marquee at the
Great Dorset Steam fair.

Thanks to John Hunt for sending this article in for use on the A.O.B.G.