Hello all,  In reply to a subscribers question about mitering organ
pipes and whether or not it matters that the hardwood front subse-
quently becomes the back of the pipe; the simple answer is that it
doesn't matter at all.

The main purpose of having a hardwood front is to enable the mouth
to be formed accurately and a reasonably sharp and stable upper lip be
maintained.  With large pipes, such as those found on the bass in a
fairground organ, this is not so important, the timber being generally
thick enough to support itself.

Reference works on organ pipes usually state that a stopped pipe can
be mitred with one 45-degree cut per "bend" without adversely affecting
the tonality.  Open pipes should have at least two cuts (at 22.5
degrees), although many are to be found in mechanical organs mitred
with just one cut.  This seems to have little effect on the tonality;
admittedly these are on the bass usually where it wouldn't be too
noticeable.

As your pipes are out of sight, I would recommend that you make them
as normal and save the hardwood for another use!

With best wishes,

Russell Wattam