After the COAA Organ Rally in Franklin, PA, I finally got a chance to
measure the wind pressure of my Raffin 31/84 crank organ, and it is 6
inches even. Actually it drops to 5.5" the moment one stops cranking,
and while cranking the pressure fluctuates rapidly (four times per rank
turn) between 5.75" and 6.25".
This was measured at the "Director" outlet nipple on the windchest,
which is controlled by a valve like any pipe, so is equivalent to what
is delivered to the pipes.
By pressing down on the vibrato bar, I could push the wind to 10" or
even 12", double the design setting. Amazingly, most of the pipes
still speak properly at that level.
I was surprised to see the feeder pulsations showing up so strong in
the final output. Someone at the Rally had said that Raffin organs run
on merely 4" pressure, but I suspect mine would play more in tune (less
robbing of wind by individual ranks) on higher pressure. So I'd love
to hear from any one else who's measured theirs, and whether it is
adjustable (those springs look hard to get at).
Mike Knudsen
|