A brief introduction.

My name is Nick Hoad, residing in England.  I have been interested in
mechanical organs, or band organs, as I believe they are called across
the pond, for many years.  I guess this is due to being taken to steam
rallies by my father as a young lad, and listening to the many
recordings he collected over the years.

For the last ten years or so I have been collecting together the parts
to build my own organ, i.e., drums, carvings, etc., and was fortunate
to be given the job of removing a derelict church organ from which I
kept the pipes and other useful bits.  I realise that church pipes may
not be ideal for an organ that is to play outside, but it will enable
me to build something that can play a recognisable tune.  The organ is
to be controlled by MIDI for which my genius brother is constructing
the necessary electronics to control the solenoids for the primary
pneumatics.

I have been following the hot glue debate with interest as I have built
my reservoir bellows and acquired a suitable blower and am getting to
the point where I need to order the leather for covering the bellows.
I see having a constant regulated wind supply as the first step on a
very long journey of discovery and experimentation.  Should a first
timer try to use hot glue (after much practise on scrap pieces), or
would synthetic glue be a safer bet?  So, needless to say, any advice
on this matter, or indeed any aspect of organ building, will be
gratefully received.

Nick Hoad