I have built many Alan Pell kits.  They are well thought out and easy
to build.  This includes several 30-key kits, a 48-key and a 65-key
plus.  Most have been built for clients with custom cabinetry and
carvings.

The most impressive example of Alan's parts being durable is the case
of the organ that I built for the Big Apple Circus.  This organ was
designed to mimic the facade where the live band sits and plays during
the show.  The organ was rolled in and out of the circus ring daily and
treated roughly.  It's journey was over uneven saw dust.  The organ was
then loaded into a semi-tractor-trailer and transported throughout the
East Coast of the USA.

I over-built the case and cart for this 48-key organ and we antiqued
it to look like the organ had traveled with the show for 100 years.
After traveling with the circus for one year, I ripped the organ apart
and it was impeccable.  One pipe had loosened and a quick re-gluing
of the foot to the chest and all was perfect again.  I might add that
I installed an air filtration system due to the unusual environment.
The inside of the chest remained clean and no pipes ever ciphered.

In following years, the organ has remained outside at Lincoln Center
throughout the winter while the circus was there.  Neither rain nor
snow nor dint of night affected the organ.  We kept a 60-watt light
bulb on inside the cabinet to keep the components at a reasonable
temperature.  Once again the organ worked flawlessly throughout the
winters.  Obviously, you could not do this with traditional organ
construction.

Another unusual version of an organ is one I built for Paul DeVries
in New York City.  He wanted a modular-modular organ.  This 30-key
organ features a case that comes apart with the twist of four knobs,
which allows Paul to have the organ sit on a shelf at home or become
a cart-mounted organ to be used outdoors.  Additionally, the case is
quickly removed so that Paul may experiment with different types of
pipes and sounds.

Paul is a musician who enjoys the flexibility of being able to change
sounds to accommodate the music he arranges for his organ.  I must 
add that he developed a clever system whereby the pipes are easily
exchanged via Velcro that is adhered to the outside of the pipes.
As such the organ can be transported without dislodging the pipes.
At a future date, the pipes are still easily exchanged.

I am currently working on a 65-key Pell and a 30-key Pell.  The 30-key
will look like a miniature circus calliope wagon and the 65 is mounted
in a 16-foot trailer.  The 65-key has been added to many times, and
each time Alan has been very helpful and accommodating.  I might add
that Bob Stuhmer has been working on some very impressive arrangements
for the 65-key instrument.  Those of you who are considering an
instrument of this size will be pleased with the variety of
arrangements that are available through Alan and Bob.

In short, between Alan's willingness to work with a wide variety of
requests and the quality of the components, I believe that everyone
will be well pleased with the experience of building any of his kits.

Bob Yorburg
roberty@wizardevents.com