[ Derry Fishel wrote in 040805 MMDigest:


>> My problem concerns a Deleika hand-cranked (paper rolls) barrel
>> organ that we purchased new when we visited Germany in 1989.  The
>> bellows or some other related device appears to have sprung a leak
>> in the pneumatic system but we cannot find a way to gain access
>> to accomplish a patch or repair.


I have a Deleika 20-note organ whose bellows have also become too
asthmatic to play properly.  But I would ask you to check the flexible
corrugated paper tube/hose that connects to the top bellows board and
feeds air to the wind chest.  It is just friction-fit into the top
board, and may be loose and leaking.


>> On opening the reel and platen compartment, there appear
>> to be several screws holding this compartment in place, plus several
>> practically in-accessible couplings joining cranks, etc. to mechanical
>> drive wheel, reciprocating wooden arm (to the bellows?), etc.  These
>> latter [couplings] appear to require disconnection if access is to be
>> gained via this direction.


You should be able to lift the roll frame box out after removing side
screws and removing the lid (see below).  There should also be little
swing-aside access hatches on the lower case sides where you can undo
the connecting rods.


>> The fixed part of the lift-up lid partially covers the reel compartment
>> edge and is glued to the sides of the box, so even if the compartment
>> could be loosened/disconnected, I question whether the compartment
>> could be lifted out.


This sounds really wrong.  My lid is held on by screws and comes off
easily.  I suspect your lid is "glued on" by excess paint, and once the
screws are out, a little un-friendly persuasion my break it loose.  If
it really is glued, a putty knife and mallet must be used to break the
joints.

(For what it's worth, the original barrel organs were all glued together
and crammed into such a small space, that one can only assume they were
meant to be thrown away rather than repaired.  But people manage to
restore them today.)


>> The front bezel with velvet side panels seems to "float" loose, but
>> is attached to offset wooden blocks, screwed or glued to it, and which
>> prevent its removal to access the interior.


This will be easy to remove once the top lid is off.  Then it is easy
to unscrews the front melody pipes from the windchest, and then unscrew
and remove the windchest itself.  I did that once, to repair (actually
re-engineer) the valves so they would seat properly.


>> What am I missing?  Help, please!


Once you get the top off, things will improve.   Also, the bottom pipes
may be mounted with double-sided sticky tape, and can be forcibly
removed, but there should be no need to remove these.

There are organ enthusiasts in Ohio and Indiana; let's hope you get
steered to a helpful one.

Mike Knudsen (Maine)