A friend has a melodeon she wants to sell to me.  I know nothing about
these things although I have an interest in restoring it.  This is a
very small pump-type organ.  It has 61 keys and two iron pedals, sort
of like piano pedals, that you use to operate the bellows.  I've not
heard the sound it makes but I imagine it would be similar to a pump
organ sound.  The cabinet is in really nice condition, but apparently
the bellows are shot.

Is this item worth the effort it would take to restore it?  Any
opinions gratefully appreciated.

Larry Wilson

 [ Richard Vance wrote in 990605 MMDigest:
 [
 [> Pictures of some examples can be seen on the Melodeon page of
 [> the New England Organ Works web site:
 [>
 [>   http://www.reston.com/OrganWorks/portfolio.melodeon.html
 [>
 [> The term melodeon is somewhat loosely used, meaning different things
 [> things depending on what historical period is referred to, and where
 [> in the speaker comes from; but in this case I mean a reed organ in
 [> a shallow box-like case, on legs, with an open bottom, rather than
 [> a solid case extending to the floor.  Often the legs are a removable
 [> cast-iron frame, like a sewing machine stand.
 [
 [ -- Robbie