Fritz,  In a round-about way I may be able to help you with your
leather wear-out problem.

I have never been one to change an original design that has stood the
test of time.  Also I may be all wet in relating this story to you,
knowing how well you take care of the instruments you have in your
collection.

I recently restored a three-faces tower clock at St. Cecilias Catholic
Church, here in South St. Louis. This clock was installed in the tower
in 1948 and had not worked for two years due to a burnt-up fractional-
horsepower motor.

The reason why it burnt was that the clock had not been properly
lubricated.  The friction or drag on the many bushings and shafts
caused undue strain on the tiny motor (1/125 hp) that worked the unit.
I had to take the entire machine apart, I cleaned everything, re-lubed
it all, and re-installed a rebuilt clock motor.  It all works well now,
with no undue heat or strain on the motor.

Though this story is related to a tower clock and not a band organ,
shafts & bushings are shafts & bushings.  Likewise, you may have
thought of lubrication and adjustments before now.  But please consider
this before changing the design.

Gary G. Stevenson
St. Louis, Mo.