Organ matters - Organs matter!

Hi

Interesting article.  Listening is indded important - I'm reminded of one electronic I used to play where one of the best "Full Great  Flues" was the unlikely combination of Principal 8 + Mixture IV (with or without the Qunitadena 16)!

As to celestes, I've seen organ where the celeste rank is planted well away from all the other unisons, whus allowing it to be used with any other 8ft - but rather getting in the way of tuning the upperwork I would suspect!

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi
The tonewheel Hammond does have a very distinctive sound.  Until recently, attempts to simulate it electronically have signally failed IMHO, but the modern "clonewheels" (to use the jargon) such as my Nord C2D come pretty close.

The Hammond tonewheel generators produce an almost (but not completely) pure sinewave with an abrupt start and finish as key contacts close & open.  The drawbars represent harmonics and can be mixed to give an approximation to other tonalities - at least in the steady state.  However, I'm convinced that part of the Hammond's distinctive sound is down to the tuning.  The tonewheels are driven mechanically from a single motor using gears, and there is no gear ratio that is 100% correct for producing an equal-temperament scale.  Hammonds use 2 different ratios which, although close, aren't quite spot on, and I suspect that adds to the distinctive sound.  Technical details can be found in the late Alan Douglas' book "An Electronic Musical Instrument Manual" (various editions from around 1949 up to the 1960's? 

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi
There are several Hammond Organ forums & e-mail groups out there (and no doubt some on Facebook), or you could try the Vintage Organ Forum (http://www.mikebracchi.co.uk/) or FB group - perhaps the FB group will bring more response.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi
There was an article about the CC organ in "The Organ" magazine several years back - at that stage it was 2 4 manual pipe organs in effect.  I don;t know if anything was changed subsequently.

One comment I do remember is that it was impossible to get it all in tune at the same time, due to sun shining through the glass!

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

This could be from a number of sources - not necessarilly a former local organ.  I know people who have quite a collection of assorted organ pipe-work & bits garnered from various sources. 

I'm also somewhat suspicious that they're not selling the complete instrument.

Every Blessing

Tony

IMPORTANT

Please note that this event has been CANCELLED due to lack of bookings (and a couple of other fctors)

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

Looks like NPOR no G01051.  I hope they've been in touch with the Methodist Church's organ advisory people before putting it on eBay!

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

Yes, Percy developed and changed his home-built organ several times during its life.  There are several recordings in the EOCS archive library (available to members).  Over the past few years I've remastered many of these, including (I think) all of Percy's.  I think there's also some articles in the EOCS magazine over the years - I have a partial collection, plus scans of most of the earlier ones.  I may be able to sort some info out later in the year, once the Harmonium event in September is finished.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

From what I've heard of Lucien's collection, it could well prove a very apprpriate place for the Vickery organ.  I must try & arrange a visit sometime soon to see the collection.

The only reservation I have about private collections is what happens when the owner gets too old to continue, or passes on.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

NPOR survey date is 1975 - but it's always possible that the surveryore didn't mention thumb pistons.  It's not unknown!

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

I didn't check the survey dates on NPOR - it's possible that the listed organs have had thumb pistons retro-fitted at a rebuild/overhaul.  However, as David says, it could also be another building altogether.  I think there's a Baptist church in Lytham - it wouldn't surprise me if it's there - but that is just a guess.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

I looked on NPOR - there are no less than 4 3 manual organs in Lytham built by Ainscough - most have had subsequent work (and there was also one in a Roman Catholic church that has been removed already).  The picture indicates most likely a free church, but there are still more than one possibility.

A builder search for "Ainscough" limited to Lytham on NPOR will bring up the list.

Every Blessing

Tony

Wish I had space!  It seems to me that there's a need for a museum of vintage electronic organs, etc.

Every Blessing

Tony

The solution is to send the info to the NPOPR office (or use the on-line system to provide the info)

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi David

Web fora do seem to have declined in popularity, whilst FB and the like is still pretty busy - but the two tings are different.  There's a new web fora launching shortly covering vintage electronic organs - I've already contributed a few comments - I donpt know if there's public access yet, but there should be soon.  (http://www.mikebracchi.co.uk/)  It does show the sstrengths of the web forum in that a wealth of reference material, comments etc. is ther - allin one place.  Maybe when FB users realise how difficult it can be to find older material (or even something posted a few hours ago on busy pages) the traditional forum will make a comeback.

There's certainly a continuing - and maybe slowly growing - interest in organs - but also we are still seeing the attitude in too many churches that the instrument is old fashioned and should be got rid of.

We live in interesting times!

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

In that case, I'd start at the inout connections to the pre-amp - if the faullt is apparent there, then it's the generators that are at fault, if it' not, it's the pre-amps onwards.  Do check for the obvious - power rail voltages present & correct and so on before getting too involved though.

Good luck

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

A small amp with a proble (signal tracer) or an oscilloscope will enable you to trace the signal.  Is the audio section common to all voices?  If it is, the fault must lie elsewhere (i.e. generators etc.)  Fault finding is applied logic.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

Be aware that some chips can be damaged by static discharge from your fingers if handled.  Only touch the plastic housing - or wear an earthed aanti-static bracelet.  I have a plastic tool for removing 8 pin IC's - not sure if they're still available, or even really needed.  Good luck.

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi

Gilks built a few of these odd instruments.  The method of stop control is far from standard - more reminiscent of certain early electronic instruments.  If you can live with that limitation, it might be a good buy.  There's a smaller example in St Andrew,  Edburton in Sussex - the NPOR survey perhaps gives a clearer idea of how the tonal arrangements work.  See http://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=A00005

Every Blessing

Tony

Hi David

Yes you did - they are in Lowther "Bicor" cabinets (a rear-loaded horn design).  Excfellent speakers - but VERY large both in terms of floor area (the problem in my music room) and height.  They sound excellent - until we moved I used them pretty much daily for general & serious listening, nd also with my Nord C2D & other electronic keyboards.  The bass response tails off somewhat in the bottom 1/ 2 octve of the 16 ft register - but that might be down to room position - they were well away from the corners.  I suspect corner placement might solve that.  I still have them - not sure at present what I'll do with them, but I'm hoping I can find somewhere suitable to use them.  If I had floor space, I'd use them in the music room with no problem - they'd do the job nicely.

The problems of downsizing!

Every Blessing

Tony