Thursday, September 18, 2014

Maybe this organ repair might becoming a thing....

....uhhhh, probably not.  I can't imagine there is much demand for a a key pusher while the true organ repairer is working.

Regardless, I was interested in lending a hand on this particular job because the organ in question was all mechanical.  The amount of linkages is absolutely astounding.  As a key is pressed on the console, it activates a series of rods and bell cranks to open a mechanical flapper on a pipe up to 20 ft away.  With all of the points of movement, there is absolutely no play in any of it.



This organ began construction in 1972 in Germany and took 2 years to complete.  It apparently is 1 of 5 like it in the U.S.  Once shipped over here, it took another 3 weeks to install it.


Here is a picture of some on the linkages responsible for making this thing work.  These are just for the key board, there is another set buried beneath the console that are operated by the foot pedals.  This thing is truly a work of art...