Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > August 2004 > 2004.08.23 > 04Prev  Next


Organ Pipes of Metal - Fixing Dents
By D. L. Bullock

Jeff Bridges wrote:


>> I was told that they were made of pewter.


I hope I didn't sound snippy; I figured you were just repeating what
you had heard.


>> When I was moving a couple of pipes from the person's home where
>> I bought them, with just two fingers one of the pipes would "melt"
>> in my fingers or bend ... you can take out [a dent] with a broom
>> handle inserted into the pipe and using a rubber mallet you can
>> bang out the dent.


Yes, most organ pipes are soft enough to bend without even trying.  The
thin-wall pipes with high tin content are the worst, but there is still
lead in 99% of those as well.  This is why I have had pipes come to me
completely flattened and I have been able to open them up and make them
usable again.  The metal is very workable.  I would not try the broom
handle and rubber mallet idea -- this technique is far more subtle than
that.

We have, or make, round rods called mandrels that vary in size from
thinner than a pencil up to a foot diameter or more.  We usually use
drill stem.  It must have the right curved shape on the end or it will
add dents to the pipe.  The correct mandrel size is slightly smaller
than diameter of the pipe.

Usually a paddle is used, not a rubber mallet.  I use a 1"x4" board,
about a foot long and specially shaped on the sander, to paddle out the
dents when needed.  In most cases the dents come out with a technique
of pressing it on the leading edge of the mandrel.  The mandrel is
anchored to a very solid wall.

When I pressed the dents out of the 16-foot trombone resonators in
the Kimball Welte Philharmonic I installed in Texas, we anchored
a specially made cone-shaped mandrel, as tall as myself and 15 inches
in diameter, to a brick wall and pressed the pipe made of thick
hardened lead on and off of the mandrel until the pipes were fully
round once again.  When I got them they were about 2 inches away from
being totally flat.  The same went for the Walhorn 16'.  The pipes can
be seen on my web page at
  http://www.thepianoworld.com/kimball_welte_philharmonic.htm

>> I was told that they were not made of lead because of the sound

quality.

But they probably have some lead in the mix anyway.  Sounds like
a mostly tin pipe.


>> I will sell those for 50 bucks apiece if anyone wants them.


That is about what they would charge for a new replacement of such
a pipe.  eBay sells these single pipes all the time.  Check out what
prices they get for those.

D.L. Bullock    St. Louis
www.thepianoworld.com


(Message sent Mon 23 Aug 2004, 15:26:23 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Dents, Fixing, Metal, Organ, Pipes

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page