What to do with an organ?

[Regi Hedahl]

Today, I worked on a piano at a church and picked up 2 organs that they wanted to get rid of. The Conn doesn't work but the Baldwin spinet does work. The Baldwin had a nice bench that can be used as a piano bench.

What's worth saving on these organs?

Regi Hedahl

[Terry Farrell]

Donate it! I'm an organ donor, you should be also! And if you donate, you don't even have to pay for transportation!

Terry Farrell

[Duaine Hechler]

I thought this was a PIANO related list - not an ORGAN list ! ! ! ! !

On 02/25/2014 05:33 AM, Terry Farrell wrote:
> Donate it! I'm an organ donor, you should be also! And if you donate, you don't even have to pay for transportation!
>
> Terry Farrell
>

--
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ - Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
(314) 838-5587 / dahe...@hechlerpianoandorgan.com / www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
Home & Business user of Linux - 13 years

[Craig Browning]

Makes and Models are Important.  Anything of a 3x61keys/32 Pedals size might be of interests to a VPO (Virtual Pipe Organ, i. e. a Home Made Digital Organ using software such as Miditzer or Hauptwerk), basically Gut the organ and use new Electronics, especially if the organ has or can be fitted with Sendyne Stop Actions.  Older Allens Rodgers, Very 65x Conns, Early Baldwins and others of this class. 

I made a "Trick Coupler"  MIDI Controller out of the Upper manual of a 1957 Conn Rhapsody.  I like a certain gadget on a Conn Caprice Spinet, that I cut in Half and added to a rack ofother analog keyboards (including a Fender Rhodes, a Hammond Extravoice organ, and hopefully sometime in the future a Hohner Clavinette).

Tone Wheel (Console Sized 2x61Keys 25 or 32 Pedals with "Waterfall" Keys) Hammonds are probably the most Valuable as is, Especially a B-3, followed by different Cabinet Styles (Such as C-3's, RT-3s, D-100s and A-100s), Next older ones like E's B/C/RT-2's, B/CV's, RT's, BC's D's, A's, Etcs.  The Later Tone Wheel organs with overhanging keys (and more features and Self Starting Motors) are less valuable, but still have some playability if functioning properly (many of these lived in Upper-Middle Class Living Rooms).  Spinets are less valuable.  The "M, M-2 M-3" (but not M-100) models are next inline (they can at least be used as donor parts to keep a B-3 going) I have an M-3 that lives in my van for gigs.  The M-100, L-100 T-1/2/3/4/500, XTP and Porta-B are less valuable, the M-100 Motors and Matching Transformers can work on a B-3, but the keys re different. Some of the Oddball oscilator instruments that Hammond made have a "Specialty" Market, these are the Solovox, Novachord, Extravoice and S Series Chord organs.  The balance of the Hammond line is comprablr to other Low-Mid market builders (Baldwin, Lowery, Thomas, Etc.) even if they have Drawbars like the TW Organs.

Leslie speakers are something that accompany electronic organs.  The Built-in Leslies that started appearing with organs in the late 1950s are often of interest to Guitar Players, or someone looking to build an extra portable Leslie for a Keyboard Setup.  The Motors can often be used to replace ones in Leslie Cabinets (2 Speed Modifications and replacing failed motors).  There are Leslies intended for Hammond Organs (122, 22H, 21 H 31H) and other makes (147, 247, 47W, 46W, 31W, Etc.) can be made to work with TW Hammonds, and others (like the 101GK) that I've only seen used with a Hammond when stripped bare and rebuilt as a 122.

[Donna Vitale]

We have a Conn Organ that is in good working condition that we are looking to donate, if you or anyone you know would like it you can contact me.  Thank you

[Joseph Garrett]

Unless it's a Hammond and Leslie, it's worthless. No one wants them. Every elderly facility I visit has one used for holding up flower pots and books. I like that, since it takes that stuff OFF of the piano.<G> BTW, organ benches are a different height. Of course, the legs can be shortened to be used with a piano.<G>

Regards,

Joe

Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

[Douglas Gregg]

Put it on Craigs list for free and you might get the price of the move. Otherwise, it is really hard to give away. 

Doug gregg