You made a very interesting video. Thanks for sharing this. I too restore reed organs and have tackled a number of these small melodeons. These can certainly make a lot of really nice music when properly restored. Looks like you did a splendid job.
I would be grateful if you or one of the commenters can contact me. I've acquired on of these (Prince & Co. pt 1845), it appears to be in very intact shape, except no sound. The bellows and wind chest to exterior touch feel intact, except that I can see/feel that the (papered canvas?) top back edge of the wind chest is unglued from the top back of the box, thus letting air flow out there. Wondering if hide glue should be attempted here? The airchest seems very intact except some surface wear on the corners, and wondering if I should reinforce this with some historically appropriate material (varnish or glue? Paper as it seems to be coated with? I hesitate to do anything that makes it less flexible and needs to be undone for a proper fix). Thanks very much for any advice!
I just bought a melodeon almost identical to this, but it has ornate carved "vents" on the front below the keys, and is (to my understanding) related and representative of a corresponding patent filed in Concord NH (where it was made) relating to a reshaping of the bellows for better sound. It's bellows has turned to paper, but looks in overall better shape than the one in this video, however missing the rods that connect to the foot petals. I'd love to communicate with you more about this, anyone knowing about these instruments is VERY hard to find!
I bought a 1850’s melodeon, restored, for $150. The best music to play on it are waltzes and church hymns. Trying to play complicated songs where more than four fingers are used at one time diminishes the sound. No wonder they went out of style in favor of full-pump organs!
Loved the video! Thanks for showing us the "lungs" of this breathing instrument. You brought it back to life!
Glad you enjoyed it!
😂bellissimo 😊
It sounds like the music on SpongeBob whenever they go to the Krusty Krab.
You made a very interesting video. Thanks for sharing this. I too restore reed organs and have tackled a number of these small melodeons. These can certainly make a lot of really nice music when properly restored. Looks like you did a splendid job.
I would be grateful if you or one of the commenters can contact me. I've acquired on of these (Prince & Co. pt 1845), it appears to be in very intact shape, except no sound. The bellows and wind chest to exterior touch feel intact, except that I can see/feel that the (papered canvas?) top back edge of the wind chest is unglued from the top back of the box, thus letting air flow out there. Wondering if hide glue should be attempted here? The airchest seems very intact except some surface wear on the corners, and wondering if I should reinforce this with some historically appropriate material (varnish or glue? Paper as it seems to be coated with? I hesitate to do anything that makes it less flexible and needs to be undone for a proper fix). Thanks very much for any advice!
I just bought a melodeon almost identical to this, but it has ornate carved "vents" on the front below the keys, and is (to my understanding) related and representative of a corresponding patent filed in Concord NH (where it was made) relating to a reshaping of the bellows for better sound. It's bellows has turned to paper, but looks in overall better shape than the one in this video, however missing the rods that connect to the foot petals. I'd love to communicate with you more about this, anyone knowing about these instruments is VERY hard to find!
No swell pedal? Usually these melodeons had a second pedal, which opened a shutter in back of the reed cells.
I bought a 1850’s melodeon, restored, for $150. The best music to play on it are waltzes and church hymns. Trying to play complicated songs where more than four fingers are used at one time diminishes the sound. No wonder they went out of style in favor of full-pump organs!