My name is Jesse Kohl and I am a graduate student at Rutgers University
in Piscataway, New Jersey.  I have recently purchased and partially
restored a 44-note Wilcox and White Symphony player reed organ.  My
intent is to share this experience with all who are interested and to
learn from others so as to preserve the legacy of these unique
instruments.

The individuals that I bought it from purchased it at an estate sale
in Scranton, Pennsylvania, approximately twenty years ago.  The organ
was not playable due to deterioration of the bellows cloth on the
exhausters and reservoir.  Aside from that, the organ was both
cosmetically and mechanically in an excellent state of preservation.

The primary and secondary pouch pneumatics were still supple and
surprisingly functioned well.  I still have several ciphers to silence
(I suspect the palette valves) and the reeds are in need of a thorough
tuning (I will leave this to a professional).  I documented every step
and posted the images in a photo album on my Facebook account.  If
anyone is interested in viewing this, friend me on Facebook to gain
access to the album.

The organ still retains its original labels, one on top of the action
just below the fan tremulant and one beneath the keyboard.  According
to these labels, it left the factory Jan of 1898 and was "Setup" by
"CH".  It bears the serial No. 53215, action No. 2322, style 17J or
175 (I cannot discern the handwriting).

As for rolls, I ended up with approximately twenty of them in poor
shape.  None of them came in their original boxes and most had their
tabs and labels missing, making identification difficult.  On the
positive, after putting new roll tabs on several of them, they played
well.  In regards to a re-cutting effort, please count me in regarding
the use of the rolls in my possession.

Now, I have some questions for the owners of these instruments, are
they all air hogs?  Meaning, do they require a lot of effort to pump
and play a tune?  I carefully tested my reservoir and was able to
maintain good vacuum.  I re-gasketed most everything, and there were no
cracks in the sound board or action chest.  I applied graphite to the
roll drive and all other moving parts but it still requires a lot of
effort to play a tune.  Are there any suggestions to make improvements?

Also, can anyone suggest a professional that could tend to the reeds?
They all sound clearly but many are in not in tune.  I do not want to
attempt this alone!  Thank you.

Jesse Kohl

 [ Many MMD subscribers are getting Facebook accounts.  I recommend it.
 [ You can control the amount of personal information that is revealed.
 [ Many choose to keep most personal information private, except from
 [ their "friends".  This is the case with Jesse.  In order to establish
 [ a "friendship" relationship with him (and therefore be able to see
 [ his photos) you must first establish an account with Facebook (free).
 [ Once you have done that, "search" for him.  This can be done using
 [ his e-mail address or using the search string "Jesse Kohl Rutgers".
 [ Once you have found him, click on the "Add as friend" button.  You
 [ will receive an e-mail message when Jesse has confirmed your request.
 [ After that you will see him listed in your list of friends.  Clicking
 [ on his picture will then take you to his facebook page where you will
 [ be able to look at his photo albums.
 [
 [ I am also a Facebook member.   If you have (or establish) a Facebook
 [ account, please send me a "Friend" request too.  I think I am the only
 [ "Jody Kravitz" on facebook.  Please mention in your "Friend Request"
 [ that you are an MMD subscriber or MMD website visitor.  --Jody