[ Bob Meyer wrote in 010717 MMDigest:
 [> The "plans" give a dimension of 7/8" for the location of the
 [> languid.  This seems to work okay for the smaller pipes, but
 [> seems out of proportion for the larger ones.

The point you make about the dimensions for the various pipe parts
is quite a sensible query to make.  It does seem that the base of the
larger pipes should be longer (perhaps more in proportion).  However
there were good reasons for this.

The criteria I set myself for the busker organ included that it
should be as small and light as possible; to achieve this every little
helps.  If you look at drawings for church pipes you will find that the
bass airways are often restricted, with the air having to flow through
a bit of a maze to reach the air slit.  I assumed that this gave the
pipes some of their character.

As a purely practical amateur organ builder, the end result is really
all I am interested in, and most people comment on the strong bass
sound that my little organs can produce.  Remember, I tell you how
I made my organs, not how the traditionalist would do the job.

Regarding the front aperture, this is not critical and using what
is left of the front panel after cutting the bottom shelves from it
is a very efficient way of doing the job.

It is worth remembering that organ building is as much an art as a
purely mechanical job.  The only two critical dimensions in my organs
are the air slit (set by a piece of cardboard) and the mouth height
(set by manual adjustment while turning the bellows).  Everything
else is made to fit as you go along (of course, using the starting
measurements that are given).  This is the way that most practical
people make things.

Having listened to many builders experiences I now say that it is
probably better to approach building my organ as you would expect to
make a cake: follow the recipe exactly, but accept that a pinch of salt
does not need to be listed as 3.456 grams and that 450 grams is for all
practical reasons the same as a pound.

Talking about metric things, all of my American builders will be
pleased to know that my new Universal 26-note organ plans are drawn
with virtually all imperial units of measure.  Yes, I do listen to my
builders and take actions.  I do hope these comments will help Bob and
anyone else reading this.

John Smith
Flitwick, England