Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > June 2011 > 2011.06.22 > 06Prev  Next


Stinson Organ at Cooperstown Farmer's Museum
By Dale F. Rowe

Dear Matthew,  Greetings from The Bronx!  The approximate dimensions
of the organ were told to me by the carver of the band organ figures.
The percussions, except for the woodpecker, woodblock and glockenspiel,
are concealed on the inside of the organ, hence no drum wings.

The organ was delivered sans facade. The facade was fabricated by
the carvers of the carrousel.  These gifted craftsmen were apparently
unaware that the facade should be removable, as they had attached it
to the organ cabinet with some permanency -- it was screwed and bolted
in place, and the electrical wires for the lighting effects had no
quick disconnects.  Until we could remove the facade, I had a bugger
of a time trying to tune the bass pipes.

As for the total number of pipe ranks, you could ask Bob Stuhmer who
was also on hand as we trouble-shot a few annoying problems, such as
mis-tubed percussions and electric rank cut-outs that were installed by
Stinson -- small toggle switches that toned down the instrument by
shutting off the Trumpets and Trombones.  This was solved by bypassing
the electric valves with straight nipples.  The power adapter that
supplied current to the electric valves had failed, possibly from the
high temperatures being exhausted from the electric blower(s) winding
the organ.

This is probably why Stinson said he would not build another organ this
small, as I assume he meant a full "165" crammed into a small cabinet,
and no drum wings.

I did have complimentary tickets to the dedication out in Long Island,
but could not make it.  (Besides misplacing the tickets, I couldn't
get a ride out there -- I don't drive.  It's a bit ironic that I don't
drive a car, but yet I drive (operate) subway trains and diesel
locomotives.  Go figure!)

Hope this helps, Sincerely,
Dale F. Rowe
Bronx, New York


(Message sent Wed 22 Jun 2011, 06:58:26 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Cooperstown, Farmer's, Museum, Organ, Stinson

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page