Henk Wevers asked [040327 MMDigest] about an Organette restoration
book.  As far as I know there is no such book, although The Organette
Book by Kevin McElhone has a chapter on restoration, but not
specifically the Celestina.  Todd Augsburger's book Roller Organs
also covers restoration of those, but doesn't really help with the
Celestina.

The most difficult bit of the Celestina is dealing with the very small
pneumatics which open the pallets.  I have restored a Celestina, but,
fortunately for me, the pneumatics were all okay.   As far as I can
see, they are glued down so they will have to be carefully pried away
from the main panel.

Having done that, it is a matter of getting the right thickness of
leather (I think they may be zephyr -- it looks very thin), and
replacing the leather and then re-gluing in place.  (Always use the
proper hot animal glue).  I found Arthur Reblitz's book, Player Piano
Servicing and Rebuilding, very useful in dealing with pneumatics.
The concepts apply equally for organette restoration.

However, before getting too deep into the Celestina, I would check
the reeds themselves.  They can get blocked by small bits of grit.
At the inside front of the case you should find two screws holding down
the reed cover.  If you remove that  you can see the ends of the reeds.
The slide into tight-fitting slots and can be pulled out for
inspection.

The proper tool for removing them is like a flat-bladed screw driver
with the end of the blade bent at right-angles.  You place the blade
in the slot of the reed and then, keeping downward pressure, ease out
the reed.  You can do it with a normal screw driver if it is a good fit
in the slot.  Make sure you note where each reed came from.  If you
don't put them back in the right order, you will get some interesting
music.  ;-)

Having removed the reeds inspect them closely, either with a
watchmaker's glass, or by holding them up to the light.  You should be
able to see light all round the reed.  If you compare the non-playing
ones with the playing ones you should also be able to see if the reeds
are bent.

Remove ant debris with a small artists brush, gently lifting the reed
if necessary.  If you need to bend the reeds, do this very gently,
they are quite fragile.  If any reeds are actually broken, you will
have to find new ones.  I have never yet done this, but many restorers
and collectors have odd reeds.  I believe those from some of the pump
organs are similar, but you might find they need slight tuning.

The note value is usually stamped into the brass surround of the reed.
If this doesn't reveal any obvious faults, you could swap playing reeds
into the non-playing slots, just to prove whether the pneumatics are
opening.  It is also worth making a simple test roll out of ordinary
paper with a series of slots which will play each note in succession.

If you need advice on further dismantling of the Celestina, let me know.

I have thought I would like to write a book on Organette restoration,
but don't yet have wide enough experience to do a worthwhile job.  If
any others feel like making a consortium to do this, or just write up
specific instruments, let me know.

Regards
John Farmer, UK
(Archivist, Musical Box Society of Great Britain)