Truly the Berlin Organ Co. made the finest organs. I have heard many pump organs and they all sound like air and reeds. This one though, sounds like a small pipe organ. Estey, Burdett, and Vocalion have nothing on this organ. Nice video. Thanks.
I just got mine last week...(Estey 18 stop)...The timing and price was just right........They are out there...just waiting for a new lease on life with someone who will love and care for them....Use CraigsList or E-bay.....you will find tons of them....take your pick...good luck...JRZ
As always, a terrific video, Mr. Jantzi! I was just as excited when I first got my Mason & Hamlin, which is now under restoration. And you really have great talent with your Berlin organ. It always sounds like you're hiding a few ranks of pipes when you play it! It really must have been very top of the line in its day, and your restoration is nothing short of exemplary. I look forward to hearing more from you and this wonderful instrument!
Seeing the wrecked bits being worked on brings back the recollections of instruments we have dealt with in the past. Restoring these is a real labour of love, and you seem to have lavished plenty of that on your project, with very gratifying results. Congratulations.
Super video Rodney, I loved the part where you mentioned using only hot animal hide glue and you had a jar labled "Mr. Ed's Hooves." I burst out laughing.
Wow...How did I miss this jewel until today? Now I know something about your acquisition of the Berlin Organ. And the insides are becoming very familiar to me with my "new" Estey 18 wheeler (stops....lol)...I am almost done getting it into full playing mode without any restoration (albeit afew Rube Goldberg touches...lol).....Thanks for sharing...JRZ
"Fairest Lord,Jesus," "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee:" these hymns played so reverently make me weep as I write. For a week I have been mesmerized by your craftsmanship and musicianship--no adjectives can convey the depth of experience; Your fingering technique reveal how much J S Bach is heard in the four-part voice leading; Solo Deo Gloria, indeed.
LOL "100 Calories burned for each hymn verse..." That's funny. I also liked Mr. Ed's Hooves! :) That organ's come along way, on many levels. Distance and sound. Well done, Rodney!
I kept the jar of glue in the kitchen refrigerator; I wanted it well labeled so that nobody would think it was a new kind of clear jelly for toast but Im sure the smell would give a hint
Where did you get the leather for the exhauster valves? (and what kind did you use?) I can't find any for a good price. The sub-bass assembly on yours is quite different from mine, as it looks.
@ironchair2006 This is a beautiful organ indeed. I have a complete album of pictures of my Crown Reed Organ by Geo. P. Bent being restored from a "basket case." It does have a nice sound althought the man who restored it for me told me instead of the Crown's original reeds he had to use some from a Chicago Cottage Reed Organ. My brother had an organ similair to mine restored by the same man and his is a Crown by Geo P. Bent. It has the original reeds so the sound is different.
Correction - one would think I would know this by now - it has 6 treble ranks and 3 bass ranks, with a sub bass. There is more information on my home page :)
A good quality thick cowhide will work, but I used pre-cut ones that I ordered from Player Piano Company. They might not be like the originals, but they sealed the air very well - the reservoir holds vacuum for over 30 minutes.
Berlin, Ont. is the old name for Kitchener Ontario. It was changed in the first world war. I did not know there was a harmonium building company there.
Truly the Berlin Organ Co. made the finest organs. I have heard many pump organs and they all sound like air and reeds. This one though, sounds like a small pipe organ. Estey, Burdett, and Vocalion have nothing on this organ. Nice video. Thanks.
The look of delight as the organ arrives is so sweet - like a child at Christmas :)I'd be exactly the same!
"Mr Ed's Hooves"---LOL! What a wonderful video and labor of love. Thank you for sharing with us. I would love to have a reed organ of my own someday.
I just got mine last week...(Estey 18 stop)...The timing and price was just right........They are out there...just waiting for a new lease on life with someone who will love and care for them....Use CraigsList or E-bay.....you will find tons of them....take your pick...good luck...JRZ
Just viewed this on my Samsung Galaxy. WONDERFUL in everyway. Danke!
As always, a terrific video, Mr. Jantzi! I was just as excited when I first got my Mason & Hamlin, which is now under restoration. And you really have great talent with your Berlin organ.
It always sounds like you're hiding a few ranks of pipes when you play it! It really must have been very top of the line in its day, and your restoration is nothing short of exemplary. I look forward to hearing more from you and this wonderful instrument!
Amazing!
Thank you very much! The organ has 6 - 61 reed ranks and 1 - 13 rank sub bass.
Seeing the wrecked bits being worked on brings back the recollections of instruments we have dealt with in the past. Restoring these is a real labour of love, and you seem to have lavished plenty of that on your project, with very gratifying results. Congratulations.
Super video Rodney,
I loved the part where you mentioned using only hot animal hide glue and you had a jar labled "Mr. Ed's Hooves." I burst out laughing.
Wow...How did I miss this jewel until today? Now I know something about your acquisition of the Berlin Organ. And the insides are becoming very familiar to me with my "new" Estey 18 wheeler (stops....lol)...I am almost done getting it into full playing mode without any restoration (albeit afew Rube Goldberg touches...lol).....Thanks for sharing...JRZ
"Fairest Lord,Jesus," "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee:" these hymns played so reverently make me weep as I write. For a week I have been mesmerized by your craftsmanship and musicianship--no adjectives can convey the depth of experience; Your fingering technique reveal how much J S Bach is heard in the four-part voice leading;
Solo Deo Gloria, indeed.
LOL "100 Calories burned for each hymn verse..." That's funny. I also liked Mr. Ed's Hooves! :) That organ's come along way, on many levels. Distance and sound. Well done, Rodney!
I kept the jar of glue in the kitchen refrigerator; I wanted it well labeled so that nobody would think it was a new kind of clear jelly for toast but Im sure the smell would give a hint
A transformation just like Jesus restored us. We sound better when He fixes us, a restored soul.
Where did you get the leather for the exhauster valves? (and what kind did you use?) I can't find any for a good price. The sub-bass assembly on yours is quite different from mine, as it looks.
Amazing
Un trabajo épico.
@ironchair2006 This is a beautiful organ indeed. I have a complete album of pictures of my Crown Reed Organ by Geo. P. Bent being restored from a "basket case." It does have a nice sound althought the man who restored it for me told me instead of the Crown's original reeds he had to use some from a Chicago Cottage Reed Organ. My brother had an organ similair to mine restored by the same man and his is a Crown by Geo P. Bent. It has the original reeds so the sound is different.
😲👏👏👏👏👏👏💖😀
Correction - one would think I would know this by now - it has 6 treble ranks and 3 bass ranks, with a sub bass. There is more information on my home page :)
Beautiful! Omg! May I ask you restored your reed organ? Ty
Thanks! I have the specs listed on my channel page.
A good quality thick cowhide will work, but I used pre-cut ones that I ordered from Player Piano Company. They might not be like the originals, but they sealed the air very well - the reservoir holds vacuum for over 30 minutes.
30 minutes? I hope 30 seconds, otherwise I'm envious!😁
Sadly Player Piano Company is no more. Columbia Organ Works sells good leather. I have yet to find pneumatic cloth as airtight as what I got from PPC.
Berlin, Ont. is the old name for Kitchener Ontario. It was changed in the first world war. I did not know there was a harmonium building company there.
"flap valve leather 7" x 12" ?
“I had the runs all week!” LOL 😂