Hello MMD readers,  I have recently acquired a Christian Tharaldsen
barrel organ which is in very poor condition.  It is the 5-rank 125
note version.

You may know that this is a Norwegian barrel organ built in the last
quarter of the 1800s.  Typically these were pinned with Norwegian folk
tunes rather than popular songs of the day.

The barrel is intact with some pins and bridges somewhat pulled out.
The upper tracker mechanism and the mechanical parts are in decent
condition.  However, and here's the bad news, the linkage between
the upper tracker mechanism and the valves is completely missing.
I haven't opened it up to see the valves in the wind chest.  Also,
all of the pipes except about 9 bass pipes at the bottom of the organ
are missing.

From research and talking with others, I know that there is at least
one other of these in the USA, in Florida at last known location.
I assume there may be a few others as well.

I'd like to know if anyone out there has experience restoring such
an organ and to hear your opinions as to whether the project is worth
undertaking.  I have the equipment I would need as well as the time
and patience, and also some generalist experts in the area.  But
I don't have experience making and voicing pipes, though I have done
lots of reading.

I would also need input as to the scales and ranks of the pipes.  If
I do a restoration, I'd want it to be as close to the original as
possible.  Any input would be welcome.

Gary Goldsmith
Minnesota