Our band organ has lost one of the two sets of clappers on its
castanets action.  Periodically the thongs tying the clappers to their
base wear through, the clappers fall off, and someone walks off with
a park souvenir.  We used to use rawhide thong ties, but have found
that plastic wire ties, inelegant as they are, last longer.

Normal castanets seem to be more than two inches wide, whereas the ones
on our organ are 1-3/4" (47 mm) at their widest point.  I am told that
some orchestrions use these narrower castanets.  Does anyone here know
where to find them?

Matthew Caulfield
Irondequoit, New York