OT: I've posted some pictures of my organ here!

[selectomatic]

CAUTION: If you're MATURE and you don't appreciate cheap 'Organ' jokes, turn back now!

What with the long weekend and all, I got to thinking that my roommate and I really haven't been paying enough attention to or organs lately. When you've lived together for a while, when you've reached a certain age, when you start thinking too much about work and finances and what all, you tend to neglect your organ.

This morning, I went to the laundry room and grabbed an old hand towel and a container of slippery stuff. Then I went to work on my sadly neglected organ. After this much time, it took a little work, but I'm pretty pleased with the results. Although it took some straining and I worked up a sweat, I think it was worth it. I remembered how much I like my organ, and how nice it looks when you spend a little time rubbing on it.

I hope you'll agree, and I hope this inspires you to grab some basic supplies and give your organ the attention it deserves. Post pictures, if you dare!

 

[selectomatic]

Here's my roommate's organ

His is a little older and smaller than mine, but I really like the way it squeezes into the space that's available for it!

 

[selectomatic]

Well, I showed you mine,

Now it's your turn. I get the feeling several of the contributors here have organs that they'd like to show the group.

-kevin

 

[drmitch]

Beautiful organs!Is that a leslie type spinning speaker cabinet next to the dark one? Mines a little older!

 

[selectomatic]

Yup, the "D" has a Leslie attached to it.

We used to have a pump organ, but it started to take too much pumping. My roommate would get too tired to keep going in the middle of a performance. Very frustrating.

Ours wasn't as ornate as yours. I like the (absurdly) fancy mirrors, shelves, candle holders, etc. It looks like yours has a reasonably original finish. Not common.

-kevin

 

[petek]

Wonderful, a guy in town has a D for sale, early 60's I think and he's asking $4700 with the Leslie cabinet. Is that too much do you think?

 

[selectomatic]

I think it's too much. On the other hand, there's something wrong with the premise. The D was only manufactured from 1939 to 1942. It was somewhat of a rara avis. There was a D-100, but that was an entirely different animal (and not as valuable, IIRC).

Under any circumstances, it sounds like a LOT of money. Both of ours needed a certain amount of work, but they were each under $1000. That was a decade or so ago, but still . . .

I enjoy a nice organ, and I'm happy to help when I can. My experience with this sort is mainly limited to Hammonds, but any interesting organs are worth discussing.

-kevin

 

[petek]

What model are those two of yours then. I'm not familiar with the model designations only that it looks a lot like the one in your pics. He got it from a church.

 

[selectomatic]

Well, the walnut one is an RT-3. That was available as shown, or in the churched-up version which had trim with little quaterfoils going around the top.

That model was made from 1955 through at least the mid-60s. It has the famous Hammond Percussion feature (like the B-3), as well as a nigh-useless Pedal Solo Unit that could make the pedals sound like a cheap CasioTone keyboard, if you wanted it to.

The cool thing about the RT-3 was that it was one of the few Hammonds which had an AGO pedalboard. Most home organs have a fairly small number of pedals laid out in a straight line, but the RT-3 has more pedals, and they're laid out in an arc, just like the big theater and concert organs. In order to achieve this, the RT-3 is taller than the standard Hammond.

Also, be warned: These beasts can weigh upward of 500 pounds.

A Hammond in good condition with fresh capacitors and new tubes should last for decades with only a little annual maintenance. You just fill the Oil Cups with some Hammond Oil once a year or so, and you're ready to enjoy your organ again.

-kevin

 

[petek]

It does have the full pedalboard and a Leslie cabinet, looks in minty shape, what would you figure would be a fair price?

 

[Cybrvanr]

NEAT RT's You've got me inspired to get mine going again. I posted some pictures a good while back of my hammonds...a BC-V from 1936, and a little M-100 home organ from the late 60's. The cabinet on the BC-V is in dismal shape, with drink rings all over it, and large piceces of veneer missing. After it was replaced with a newer, fancier organ in the sancturary,it lived the next 30 or so years of it's life in the youth room of the church before I acquired it. I've gotten all the electronics going good in it, but I am no good at restoring woodwork, and need to find someone that can help me restore the cabinet so it looks as good as it sounds.

Is that a Hammond clock above your Roomate's RT there? I've been looking for some Hammond clocks myself to decorate my organs with. That's a great place to put your organ...you can enjoy the nice view out the picture window while your playing!

 

[maggie~hamilton]

RT Series Hammond

Ah, maybe your Solo Pedal Unit isn't adjusted properly -- when it does work as it should, it's a really nice addition to the otherwise very deficient Pedal department on the Hammond. It's especially interesting to have 32-footers in a Hammond! There was an RT2 at the church where I played before the one where I am a now (plus a pipe organ) and it had an incredibly rich sound. And you could really tell when I added in the 32-foot stops. I'll grant you, the stops above 4 ft. are pretty much useless.

 

[badata]

no organ!!!!

but plenty to blow on!!!!

enjoy everyone of them!!!!

i have a couple more that are not in the picture.

 

[scoots]

No --- Not a Bassoon!

Michael, do you play the Bassoon? I had one on loan from my High School band department for a few weeks thinking I'd learn how to play it since I played the clarinet at the time.

What a nightmare! Expensive reeds, temperamental intonation, difficult fingering, awkward to hold... and no lucrative show biz contract at the end. I quietly gave it up.

Scoots.

 

[countryguy]

New to Washer Land

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to washer land but have been a member of VCCC for awhile. I saw this thread about organs so thought I would post pics of the 3 that I own, all Lowreys - MX-1, Parade, Majesty.

Here's the MX-1.

Gary

 

[countryguy]

the Parade

 

[countryguy]

and the Majesty

 

[selectomatic]

Wow! Lots of response, and some nice organ pix!

Lowreys have some cool toys on them. They can generate some interesting effects. The last one there is quite an impressive piece of work, but it looks like there's not much in the pedal area. Odd.

As to the clock, it's a Sessions wind-up Black Mantle Clock. I had it for about 20 years and didn't really have anywhere to put it. Finally I came up with the idea of having a friend build a "Mantle" to put it on. It was made to be the same width as the organ, and it's positioned just high enough so I can open and close the organ's lid. The curves match the bookshelves on the opposite wall.

The Hammond D is black for two reasons. First, it matches the woodwork in the library, and second because it was stained, faded, and the finish had cracked and crazed. I couldn't have brought myself to change the color if it had been in good condition. The RT-3 is in fairly good original condition, if faded in places.

I guess I'll agree that the 16' and 32' stops on the pedal solo unit add something, but the room I have this in is a bit small -- I'm thinking they'd mainly help fill up a big room. The cheesy sound I was referring to was indeed the shorter stops.

As to price, I see some websites that offer completely restored RT-3s with Leslies for as much as $8000. That would include a warranty of some sort. Of course, location is important. Here in the Midwest, we can often find things quite a bit cheaper than on the coasts.

Old electronic equipment usually needs some work done on it, so if the one that PeteH is looking at hasn't been refurbished, he might be looking at spending some money on repair soon.

As for the collection of horns, I was too distracted by the little red shorts to have much comment.

 

[badata]

horns

Scoots......yes the bassoon!!! It IS a tough instrument to play but it is a lot of fun!! I find that the oboe is worse with the intonation. The rest of them are pretty easy though.

Selectomatic.........appreciate that!