Marc Elbasani wrote several comments in Digest 971223.  Let's take
these one at a time.

> ...I'm curious about theater organ pipes because I have recently
> heard of replica 165s being made with theater organ pipes and coming
> out quite nicely. ... What's more, I would imagine that theater organ
> pipes are voiced more finely than church organ pipes.

1.  Pipes for theater organ are available.  Brand new, also.  Used
pipes can be reused, but they must be in good condition and suitable
for use or re- voicing.  One can easily waste more time and money on
recycling old materials than purchasing new pipes.  Theater Organ pipes
are not voiced _more_ finely than church organs.  Bad church organs
have bad voicing just like bad theater organs.  Fine organs have fine
voicing.  Band organs?  Fine voicing is not so critical, but can make
the result more musical and enjoyable.


> ..."A violin pipe is supposed to sound like a violin just like a
> trumpet pipe is supposed to sound like a trumpet."

2.  Hyperbole.  If a violin pipe sounded just like a violin, you
wouldn't be able to hear it from across the parking lot!  Band organs
have to crank out volume.  For a Trumpet pipe to sound like a really
presentable Trumpet, requires more resources than are usual in a band
organ.  While a laudable goal, it's not usually practical under the
constraints.  And wouldn't you prefer your band organ to sound like an
authentic band organ?


> How much do theater organ pipes run for, and how's their voicing
> in general?"

3.  Saving money while building a fine musical instrument?  Why not build a
Steinway piano from discarded Story & Clark parts?   ;-)


> ... is it possible to split the wind chests of a W165-scale
> band organ into two separate units, spaced about two meters apart?"

4.  Splitting the chest is po$$ible.  Not recommended, though.  One
could build a chest for one side of the room and another chest for the
other side, but would it sound as nice?  Would it be worth the extra
effort/expense/design to achieve a lesser result?  (Enclosure within
one case helps blend the tones into a cohesive ensemble.  A split
design can cause problems with keeping the two chests in tune, among
other problems.)

Finally,  this is a hobby (for most).  So have fun!  Experiment!  It's
your money, so enjoy yourself.  If you're thinking along the lines of
making something cheaply and then selling it to the public, don't we
already have a "Ragtime"?

Regards,
Robert Linnstaedt