Organ Update - February 2024

This month started out with repairing some Ophicleide pipes (bottom end of the Tuba) that had collapsed under their own weight (high lead content in the resonators). Instead of looking circular at the top, they looked like squished eggs. Thanks to my friend John Cornue, he was able to persuade them to retake their original form. This was a very interesting process to watch and certainly yet another artform. Thanks John!

With the rest of the lumber on hand, a temporary spray booth was constructed in the basement out of plastic sheeting and some fans out our future bedroom egress window. With those supplies, some staples and tape, we were able to create a negative pressure enclosure to spray in. The two large pieces of the platform that stay stationary were completed so the 8’ Tibia offset could be installed. Finally some more pipes!

The second trap trunk was also constructed, along with racking for the Diaphone and Ophicleide as the originals did not come with the organ. Thanks to Zach for all of the help with these things! His table saw certainly isn’t a stranger to this project… Another few pieces missing were some metal fishplates. Fortunately, there is a metal fabrication shop near us that was able to make copies of an original.

Finally, the three remaining buttons that took two months to get and another month to have engraved were delivered and installed in the console drawer.