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MMD > Archives > September 2019 > 2019.09.06 > 01Prev  Next


Unknown Weight Driven Organette For Restoration
By Charles Moore

Hello MMD.  It has been a while since I last posted.  On this
occasion I am hoping that someone might know the whereabouts of another
one of these rare weight driven organettes.  I am hoping to restore
this instrument or have it restored; however, without some additional
information or photos there will be a lot of guess work.

The only information that I have about this instrument is in a letter
of August 24, 1992, from George Theobald to Marty Roenigk along with
five somewhat dark Polaroid photos.  Apparently Marty had written to
Mr. Theobald inquiring about his instrument.  At that time Mr. Theobald
reported knowing of only three of these to be in existence.

I have posted photos here:

https://www.honorrolls.net/oak%20parlor%20organ1.jpg 
https://www.honorrolls.net/oak%20parlor%20organ2.jpg 
https://www.honorrolls.net/oak%20parlor%20organ3.jpg 

The organ is coin operated and plays 20 notes.  The works look very
much like the works in a Celestina organette.  It appears to play
an endless loop.  According to the letter the instrument originally
had four bells (battery operated?) activated along with the four
bass notes.

The photos are a little dark and do not show a lot of detail but
a large weight is clearly seen attached by a metal strap to a drum
up top.  The instrument shown in the photos has many missing parts
including the weight, bells, etc.

It would be really helpful if I could get a look at one of these
instruments in greater detail in order to possibly restore this one.

Thanks,
Charlie Moore


(Message sent Fri 6 Sep 2019, 22:39:09 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Driven, Organette, Restoration, Unknown, Weight

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