I've just had an interesting (for me) job dropped off at my Australian-
based workshop (I repair and restore clocks and clockwork items).  It
is a German Kalliston organette, the model that had the skin drum
mounted on top as well as two bells, and reads punched zinc music
sheets.  I've never worked on one before.

I've done a careful partial disassembly and can't see major damage
anywhere (lots of dust, a couple of small holes in the bellows
leather).  Any advice on sources of technical information on such items
would be greatly appreciated!  I understand the general notions of how
it works: exhaust and reservoir, reeds, etc., but I don't know what are
likely to be the major problems to identify and remedy to get it going
again.  Or how to check whether the bellows/vacuum system is working,
etc.

I'd be very grateful for any pointers, suggestions of books, websites,
technical manuals.  Also if there are any other Aussies out there
working on such items, please let me know.

Susie Robinson
Australia

  [ Again, the MMD Archives can be a good place to start on this.  The
  [ late Todd Augsburger, d. May 2011, was a MMD contributor who wrote
  [ a book on organettes.  Kevin McElhone is a current MMD contributor
  [ who knows organettes.  Articles with "Organette" in the title are
  [ indexed at:
  [    http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/O/organette.html  and
  [    http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/O/organettes.html 
  [
  [ There is a reference in one of the articles to this website which
  [ may also be helpful:  http://organetterepair.com 
  [
  [ It is possible to use a "Google Custom Search" to look for words
  [ that appear anywhere on a page in the MMD Article and Technical
  [ Archives by using the "Google Custom Search" box that Jody added
  [ near the bottom of almost every page on the MMD website. Try
  [ entering both the words "organette" and "repair" and click the
  [ "Search" button     --Relief Editor.