31 Note MIDI Organ

Mine Hill

Member
Messages
191
Location
New Jersey
I started my new 31 note version of the TOPSY . Having build the Busker and the Topsy (with a glockenspiel) I wanted something in-between that was MIDI controlled and easier to move around. I did play the sample 31 note music on the Topsy that comes with the Topsy and it is very impressive, so I made the decision to start the project. I hope the final organ will be about 20” by 20” and 18 “ deep. Pipes will be made out of 1/8 “ cherry. My objective is for a side mounted hand crank and to mount the battery inside the organ as power requirements will be less without the motor. It will have 12 Melody Celeste pipes but no glockenspiel. In total there will be 37 pipes, 5 Bass, 8 Accompaniment, 12 melody and 12 Celeste, I am also working on detailed plans as I go along and CNC files for some parts.
The attached pictures are of the pipes mounted on a test pressure box top to see how the pipes would fit together
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1707.jpg
    IMG_1707.jpg
    54.6 KB · Views: 93
  • IMG_1708.jpg
    IMG_1708.jpg
    42.7 KB · Views: 84
  • IMG_1709.jpg
    IMG_1709.jpg
    49.4 KB · Views: 80
  • IMG_1710.jpg
    IMG_1710.jpg
    52.1 KB · Views: 82
  • IMG_1711.jpg
    IMG_1711.jpg
    44.2 KB · Views: 76
  • IMG_1712.jpg
    IMG_1712.jpg
    54 KB · Views: 78
Cool...old world meets the new world. Like the others have said, we'll be looking forward to photos of your progress. :thumb:
 
Everybody wanted to see more pictures - It is still very much work in progress, looks like I will meet my goal of 20" x 20" for the organ - Next step is to cover the bellows, tune and trim the pipes to length.


IMG_1719 (Copy).jpgIMG_1720 (Copy).jpgIMG_1721 (Copy).jpgIMG_1722 (Copy).jpgIMG_1723 (Copy).jpgIMG_1724 (Copy).jpgIMG_1725 (Copy).jpgIMG_1726 (Copy).jpg
 
Looks like it is coming along very nicely. Do you have a set of plans for this one or are you making them as you go. That is what I thought I read in your first post, but not sure I understood it correctly.
 
Some more work in progress pictures, I got the leather on the bellows and they seem to be working fine. Getting 4.5“ of water on a water gage. As you can see I have a lot of sanding to do to clean up the parts and here is still some work to do on the case.

After the sanding and cleaning the parts I can install the electronics and do the final pipe tuning (they are close as I checked them using the bellows from my TOPSY 3 )

One thing I have learned is do not use 1/8” plywood for the stiffeners in the bellows. John Smith’s plans will work much better.

IMG_1748.jpgIMG_1750.jpgIMG_1752.jpgIMG_1753.jpgIMG_1755.jpgIMG_1758.jpg
 
Looking very very nice. I wonder how thin balsa wood would work for stiffeners. I had a difficult time looking for cardboard for mine that was the correct thickness and would not separate. After I had mine all put together, I spied the balsa wood at a hobby shop. Looked like it would work.
 
The build is going fine, will start to voice the pipes soon and with any luck will be making music this month.
Its still up in the air as how to finish the outside of the case.


IMG_1768.jpgIMG_1802.jpgIMG_1814.jpgIMG_1820.jpgIMG_1824.jpgIMG_1825.jpg
 
Except for deciding how to finish the outside the organ is completer ( still have to make a cart ). I hope to have a youtube
video in the next week or so.


IMG_1836.jpgIMG_1837.jpgIMG_1838.jpgIMG_1840.jpgIMG_1841.jpg
 
Top