Robbie Rhodes wrote:

[ I once saw a vacuum pipe system with connections in every room
[ of a fancy mansion, so that the maid needn't drag around a big
[ vacuum cleaner.

The "Encyclopedia Of The American Theater Organ", Vol. II, by David
L.  Junchen, shows a full page ad from "The Spencer Turbine Co. --
Manufacturers of Central Vacuum Cleaning Systems, Organ Blowers in
Hartford CT." that appeared in "Mancall's Theatre (sic) Building and
Equipment Catalog" circa 1931.

There are several photos showing maintenance crews cleaning a movie
theater with the Spencer central vacuum system, and it contains the usual
sales garp of the day: "There is a standard size and capacity to fit
any theater from the small community theater to the largest houses".

Also shown is a device on casters that says "What appears to be a
tiny Orgoblo is actually a Spencer vacuum cleaner in use at the Indiana
Theater, Indianapolis, Indiana."

To me, it looks like an industrial meat grinder (the kind you saw in
the TV newsclips during the last hamburger salmonella scare), except
it has a outside shroud that is characteristically shaped like an organ
blower unit.

Also pictured is a Spencer Orgoblo built in 1929 to power the VI/51
Barton organ in the Chicago Stadium.  Seven stages, each having 45"
diameter fans, culminated in a 28" diameter outlet supplying 25" of
wind; two additional stages with 48" diameter fans deliver 35" of wind
to the 10" diameter high-pressure outlets.  It runs at the relatively
slow speed of 900 RPM, powered by a GE synchronous motor whose field is
powered by a direct-connected DC exciter.  The unit delivered 13,600
cubic feet of air per minute.  5'x12' --  Woof!

Spencer Turbine, now in Windsor CT, makers of the "Orgoblo" family of
blower units, made "Orgoblo Juniors" (Blo-ettes?) designed for reed and
small pipe organs.  The Estey company purchased them by the hundreds
for their reed organs.  I heard it said they claimed their turbine
blowers were so perfectly made that you could balance a nickel on them.
I haven't seen one that was that good !

I'll try to scan these; they're really something to see.

Karl Ellison
Ashland, Massachusetts