New crank organ build

[Tom Baugues]

So, it didn't take as long as I thought it might to cut them all out with the laser and the spacers look much better. I thought I would even label each one in case I dumped them all on the floor and got them mixed up. Saved all files. I'm probably the only one in the world right now building a "Universal" organ but if I hear of anyone else building one, these files would help somebody from cutting them all by hand.

 

[Jay Caughron]

Hey Tom I found the bellows boards but not the parts for the wind chests yet. I will keep looking every chance I get

 

[Tom Baugues]

Hey Tom I found the bellows boards but not the parts for the wind chests yet. I will keep looking every chance I get

Awesome!

 

[Tom Baugues]

Progress continues. Seems like I spend a lot of time just ready and looking at the drawings over and over again but slowly I start to understand what needs to be done. This organ is challenging for sure. I now have the bellows and the reservoir that sits on top of it mostly done. Almost ready to add the cloth.

 

[Jay Caughron]

Looken good Tom yer moving right along

 

[Paul Douglass]

Yes it is looking good. I have a friend that has built two of those. Here is a picture of one. I have not seen his second one

 

[Tom Baugues]

Worked on the pressure box yesterday. This is the box where the roll of punched paper music will go. Today's job will be to finish the lid for it.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Today was one of those days. Two steps backwards...then two more steps backwards. HEAVY SIGH!! Sometimes you just have to step back and regroup. At least I have a game plan for tomorrow which should get me back on track.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Progress has continued on the organ however I've spent several days just "thinking" about how to do the next step. John Smith's "plans/drawings" are not always easy to understand and many times you have to use his information as a suggestion only. In these photos you will see the tracker bar and the pressure box. My good friend Ed Ricci made me a tracker bar on his CNC machine. It is beautifully made from a piece of Cherry wood and will be a huge improvement over what the plans suggest. It is now fully assembled and ready to have rubber tubing attached then mounted into the pressure box. The pressure box required making a couple of saddles for the roll of music to set in and a take up spool for the music paper to wind up on.

 

[Kenny Heermann]

Looks very good.

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Tom, I don't know what kind of air pressure the bellows create, but can you turn your air compressor down and actually get a hint of what the pipes sound like? Is this still considered a "street organ"? I assume a cart will be attached to it to make it moveable/portable? Yours is the only hand built one I have ever seen and heard. You had it al Larry's Gathering but if I remember correctly you were on a cane or crutches at our Gathering so it didn't come . My mom would have loved hearing that and knowing you had made it. Continue on sir, loving the progress and information shared.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Tom, I don't know what kind of air pressure the bellows create, but can you turn your air compressor down and actually get a hint of what the pipes sound like? Is this still considered a "street organ"? I assume a cart will be attached to it to make it moveable/portable? Yours is the only hand built one I have ever seen and heard. You had it al Larry's Gathering but if I remember correctly you were on a cane or crutches at our Gathering so it didn't come . My mom would have loved hearing that and knowing you had made it. Continue on sir, loving the progress and information shared.

This organ will use pressure measured at about 8" (water gauge). Which is more than my other organs due to the fact this has more pipes, and I want it loud enough for outdoor use. I can blow (by mouth) into each pipe one at a time and get a sense as to if that pipe is going to work, however for the most part you really don't know what the organ will ultimately sound like until it is completely built, and all the pipes are connected, and you turn that crank for the first time. That's when you get that silly grin on your face that never leaves. Yes, this is a street organ and yes, I will have to build another cart for it. I will need storage for the music rolls so a drawer of some sort will be incorporated to hold those.

 

[Tom Baugues]

I've just been making small parts this week. Bearing blocks, support braces, rewind mechanism. I'm to a point where I need to start mounting all these assorted parts into the main case. That means I'm going to need to clean off the workbench and give myself some space. I hope I can remember where I put everything for when I need it. Anyway, a few photos. I want to give a big shout out to Jay Caughron for his continued help in building organs. He has been quick to answer any questions I've had and keeps me inspired to want to do quality work.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Made up the crank assembly today. The main crank handle (not made yet) will attach to this. Connecting rods will then be attached and those will pump the bellows up and down.

 

[Jay Caughron]

Made up the crank assembly today. The main crank handle (not made yet) will attach to this. Connecting rods will then be attached and those will pump the bellows up and down.

Wow really nice lookin crank throws

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Tom, in the ag world we call those "pillow blocks". Some are also charred to make them harder. I don't know if you would drill it a 1/16 smaller as charring would increase the diameter or not. Looking good. Keep up the great work!

 

[Tom Baugues]

Tom, in the ag world we call those "pillow blocks". Some are also charred to make them harder. I don't know if you would drill it a 1/16 smaller as charring would increase the diameter or not. Looking good. Keep up the great work!

This assembly has actual ball bearings on each end and the pillow block for the center support. I’ve not heard of charring them though. I did make this pillow block out of hard maple though. I was thinking of just putting shellac on it to coat it. In other organs I’ve used brass bushings for this application here I just used hard maple.

 

[Jay Caughron]

This assembly has actual ball bearings on each end and the pillow block for the center support. I’ve not heard of charring them though. I did make this pillow block out of hard maple though. I was thinking of just putting shellac on it to coat it. In other organs I’ve used brass bushings for this application here I just used hard maple.

There should have been ball bearing for all the blocks Tom. That is what was sent out

 

[Tom Baugues]

I've started working on the case. A lot of the parts need to be mounted within the case to get final measurements. Tonight, I built the base that everything sits on and decided to start clamping panels together to get a quick "mock-up" view of the whole organ. Long way to go but it just might all come together.

 

[Tom Baugues]

Work has slowed down a little over the past couple weeks. I didn't feel very good for a couple days, then I kind of felt like I lost my momentum. However, my mind and body are back into it and moving forward. I've been trying to get the clutch assembly, and the rewind assembly mounted into place. The clutch assembly will allow me to disengage the crank handle from the drive roller which will allow me to rewind the rolls of music.