BIG ORGANS

[paulg]

This week we had TWINS !
Yes, our wonderful RODGERS 32-B has two new friends; A HAMMOND CV and a CONN Theatrette 552.
I have a service and maintenance question for those organ experts that I know are out there.
The CONN Theatrette has been Mitch's unit since new, about 1972-ish. We picked it up from his parents' house yesterday. It has highly oxidized keyboard contacts.
KEY QUESTION:
What do you use to remove the oxidation without ruining the keyboard contacts? I do have DE-OX-IT in the house but perhaps you organ experts out there have a better solution. If you've run into this issue and have a good fix I am here listening!
Pictures follow. First the CONN Theatrette 552.

 

[paulg]

Oxidized contacts

Here they are:

 

[paulg]

A closer shot

More oxidized contact "rods".

 

[paulg]

RODGERS 32-B

The BIGGEST ORGAN in the HOUSE ; )
Mitch's main unit since about 1990. Great unit.

 

[paulg]

Hammond CV

We're gonna be jammin' on this baby. Still runs like new...

 

[xraytech]

nice organs, I'm liking the Rodgers the best as I love their sound(at least the newer digital ones) But I really like that Conn as well, I wish I could find a decent sized organ around here that is reasonably priced as my early 80's Kimball is dead and not worth repairing.

 

 

[paulg]

Classical organs

If you have churches nearby, you may want to check with them. Often, organs are donated and never used or fall into disrepair.
Estate Sales.net is a great resource too. We went to an estate sale at a church about two weeks ago and they were selling their pipe organ! It was actually quite compact including the pipes. Really cool but way too tough to install in a residence. But if you have the room.....
The Rodgers was purchased from a local dealer as it was a trade-in from a local church.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Two great organs!

It will take many hands to play with those BIG ORGANS!
Paulg please make a vid of playing these when you get a chance!

Thanks,
Larry

 

[petek]

My Wurlitzer OMNI needs a good cleaning/tuning as well. There's no one around here who even services home organs anymore.
Finding replacements.. ask around at some of the piano/organ stores in your area to call you when they get something in on trade etc. Bottom line is they don't want them either because they have no customes for them and it will probably save them the cost of trucking it to the dump.

 

[abcomatic]

Contacts

In the pipe organ world, most of the contacts are self-cleaning. Play it for awhile and see if they clean themselves. If you get in there and start messing around with the contact rails, they could end up bent, misaligned etc. Be careful with that. Good luck. Gary

 

[customline]

Customline asks.......

Nice Hammond. What year is the CV and what's that Leslie your playing it through? I have an M2 that I putz around with and I think Hammonds are the best.

 

[kimball455]

The biggest

As stated, in pipe organs the contacts are, for the most part, self cleaning. The more they are used the better they work. At any rate, use extreme care when working with the contacts. At Boardwalk Hall we have a Hammond X77 with a custom Leslie cabinet that need work. It is not in use. A volunteer actually found it on the curb, put it in his truck and brought it to the hall. The X77 is, as far as I know, the last tone wheel Hammond made. In the picture I am at the 7 manual console for the Arena Midmer Losh.
Harry

 

[toploader55]

Isn't it ashame...

That there are No Techs anymore to repair these ?

My Dad bought me a Hammond R-124 with a built in Leslie in 1971. He still has it but it is now Non functioning because everytime he has had someone that said they could repair it, has charged him, works for a few hours and then quits. He'll call them back and they say "It's an Old unit and not repairable". After the fact they took his money.

Honesty has gone down the Crapper along with Customer Service. I really detest how people just don't give a damn anymore. Seems for the most part most things are dealt with a "Whatever". And that's that.

 

[abcomatic]

HI Paul

Hi Paul, I thought this may help? Here is the information for Organ Supply Industries: Organ Supply Industries, box 8325 Erie, PA 16506
Ph. 814-835-2244
Maybe send them your picture and see what they recommend? oh, their email is: [email protected]

I hope this helps? Gary

 

[paulg]

Thanks for the info!

OMG Harry that console is astounding! Jeepers.
In our case Mitch and I are both "former" organists who play for fun but no longer in church. I did the church scene for about ten years.
My being an electronic engineer too has its merits. (i'm in the television and appliance world). I must have a thousand NOS tubes, many used tubes and a full stock of caps, resistors and my scope etc. Not much daunts me.
However, I am no fool either. If I don't know exactly what to do - I ask first. The CONN contact rods stumped me and so here I am asking the experts. And thanks for the good info.
This particular Hammond is from 1947. A friend from Mitch's old neighborhood let us buy it off of the funeral home when it was time. The Hammond has been professionally maintained and used at least once a week for its entire life. Can you believe it? The tone cabinet has no Leslie. Right now we're putzing with it and getting a feel for it. We want to change to a Leslie cabinet. We're fortunate to have an organ dealer nearby with a cool "back room". Maybe we can snag a rough Leslie off her and fix it. She said only a couple of Leslies will work on a CV. I forget which though.
The CONN has a Leslie built in. It has a filter hum which I'll fix if the caps don't reform after a few uses.
.. And Thanks Gary for the tip for Organ Supply. I'll check them out ASAP.
I am so out of practice it just isn't funny. I am hoping that these babies will get me back into the swing of things. Mitch is quite good and is really having fun with this stuff. After my church gig ended in 1984 (I moved away), I never touched the keys again - I was just so tired of it. I now miss it though and am looking forward to the next chapter. You won't find me back in church! Bah. If we do a video as requested it'll probably be Mitch playing...
One of our spiritual friends suggesting getting the Hammond "smudged" ? Is that correct? I personally don't care. I get a good vibe from the unit. Hell, I spent ten years doing funerals; I know the other side is on my side. LOL!

 

[washernoob]

WOW!

Gorgeous instruments.

I had a Hammond CV too! I had the big DR20 tone cabinet too. Loved the organ.

I traded it in for a Rodgers 22b, the 2 manual version of your 32b. It was a phenomenal analog instrument. SUPER heavy, but SO well built.

Then I sold it, and now I have a Conn 640!!! Similar to your 552!!!

It seems you and I share similar tastes in organs!!!!

 

[rockland1]

Organ For Sale

I have a Lowrey LS l-75 organ for sale. Great condition with bench. $200 takes it.
Pick up near Green Bay, WI If you need a picture, let me know.

 

[kimball455]

Hammond X7

Here's the Hammond X77 that was rescued from the curb. It is in the Organ Shop at Boardwalk Hall. There is a Facebook group 'Fans of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Organ' for more information and pictures of the Hall and the two organs in the Hall.
Harry

 

[paulg]

Washernoob

That coincidence is really fun. GREAT minds think alike!!