Oh man, I love these weird little things! I have the smaller one that only has the major chords, I picked it up off of the curb, and I brought it home, and I was pleasantly surprised. Luckily mine is in nearly perfect tune. They are so much fun to play.
i just pulled one we had in our shed out. it has lots of droppings and dust in it. thank you for posting this, it will help me clean it out and get it back to working order in no time. though mine is a modelno.990, they should be relatively the same.
Mine had some little droppings in it also, tons of dust, and a few odd little things which had fallen in there over the years, but I didn't think the filth needed to be in the video. :-)
Dang, I want those chords for Amelie. Looks like a fun song. Also, I want to learn how to use the chords to play a song. I have a chord organ and it has at least two dozen chord buttons!
The music and chords are out there if you search for them. You're lucky to have so many chord buttons. There are so few on my little instrument that they're almost unusable. Songs need to be transposed or specifically written for it, or else I always seem to have a missing chord.
I have the same one from this video in the 70’s. That is how I learned to play piano and went on to several band instruments and guitar. Wish I still had the little organ. It had only 1 volume, LOUD…
I tried putting it on a dimmer switch to control the fan speed in order to add dynamic expression capability, but as it turns out the reeds inside only work with a good amount of air going through them. Even when controlling the air pressure it was only 1 volume, LOUD. 🙂
I'm glad I came across your video. I just purchased a Sonola Organ from a pawn shop, same mechanism as yours, just a little bigger. Before buying I tested it so many times and it worked fabulous (hence I bought it). So when I brought it home I put the unit standing in vertical position for a couple of hours until I find some find of tall stand. Then I proceded to sanitize and disinfect it with some antivurus spray. (corona virus thing) I was very careful so I used a cleaning towel to avoid spraying the solution directly. Then I finally plugged and turned the unit on , but it takes a long time to work, the sounds is very low, I can barely hear anything, some keys don't work at all, they don't produce any sound and the chord keys on the left side don't produce any sound either. I also notice the fan emits a louder sound. It wasn't this loud when I tested at the pawnshop. What do you think would be wrong ?? Did the antivirus solution entered inside the unit by accident and cause some fuse malfunction ? Did I damage the reed mechanisms or fan by putting the unit in vertical position for a couple of hours?? Again, the unite was in perfect working condition , I tested it several times before buying it. Your help is greatly appreciated. !
I'm going to take a guess that standing it in the "vertical position" - does this mean you stood it on its end? - is more likely to blame than the disinfectant. Especially if you only wiped it on, rather than sprayed it. Possibly the fan has come loose from its housing? I would unplug it and try taking it apart like the OP has done and seeing if anything seems wrong inside. They are simple machines.
My first advice would be to get a screwdriver, take it apart, clean whatever you can clean, and see what happens. They're simple devices, so cleaning is most likely all it needs.
@@marknowlin8356 I was able to take it apart, Apparently nothing is broken or loose inside. However, I'm sure that by standing the unit on its end messed up the key bed big time. It's a weird mechanism. Each key is attached by title springs and has to be perfectly "Aligned" to touch some metal surface at one end and a hole on the other to make a sound. Otherwise, it doesn't produce any sound at all. Standing this instrument on its end is enough to cause damage. . I mean, it doesn't break anything, but it "Dis-Alignes" the key mechanism. When placing this unit in vertical position, the metal underneath each top key causes extra weight on the key below and consequently makes them get out of place. Also, it's super easy to take a key out, but extremely difficult to put it back in. There's a great change of breaking the the springs when trying to put back a key. My instrument doesn't work properly anymore. Now just 5 keys at most produce a very weak sound, the rest nothing! I messed it up big time ! Maybe I need to find some old organ repair shop , but at the same time I wonder how much they would charge. It's all artisanal work and I assume a lot of labor hours need to be involved. Thanks for your advice though !
@@JeremyBorumComposer I did that and doesn't work. I agree it's a simple device, however, its a complex artisanal mechanism. There are no motherboard or chips at all, but the keyed mechanism has tiny springs connected to try pieces of metal and each key has to be aligned perfectly on both sides ( one to a metal surface and the other to a hole) to produce a sound. When I stood this instrument in vertical position for a couple of hours, my assumption is that the metal on the upper keys caused extra weight on the lower keys and messed up the whole mechanism. Nothing looks broken or loose but the keys went out of place maybe by a 10th of a mm , but still it was enough to cause damage. Thanks for your advice though !
@@realsoda9404 That sounds a little more complex than my little unit, but it also sounds like it's a matter of careful adjustment and not anything that's permanently broken. I wish I could offer a little better advice, but keep fiddling and best of luck with it.
I have the same one. Got it at a goodwill for $20. The main keys stick really bad, I can press them and they break free but will get stuck again over time. I cleaned the outside, but now looking at the back I am guessing the previous owner smoked and that fan blew the sticky nicotine and tar through it, so where the keys setting needs cleaned. Thanks for sharing this. I really expected it to be more complex than that. lol
This was was very full of dust, sticky from what I suspect was a soda spill, and complete with mouse droppings. A bit of a wash in the sink sorted all of that out.
Couldn't have chose a better song to play with one. That sounded amazing haha. Buying one for $25 today same one as yours but no stand. Has major and minor chords but am gonna thoroughly clean out all reeds ad I noticed it's not perfectly in tune but that's the norm with these things I'm finding.
Cool Jeremy, thanks. I am messing with Delmonico Chord Organ. Made in West Germany. I want to take it apart to clean it, but it's built a little different than the organ tear downs i seen on the tube. Got any advice? Thanks
They're pretty simple inside, so don't be afraid to open it up. Accordions are relatively simple inside also, and these are basically accordions with a fan instead of bellows. If any notes are behaving oddly, make sure the felt or leather that closes up the holes is sitting evenly around the opening. Clean it, but don't oil anything. Take pictures along the way if you think you will forget something. Other than those little tips, you'll probably be fine. Good luck!
I have a similar organ but the stand broke along with some of the brown plastic parts on top of the organ. Does anybody know how or where to look for a place that I can find a stand and possibly repaired? (based in Denver)
If you hear the little turbine working, my first guess would be that the air is escaping and not providing enough pressure to the reeds. You only need a screwdriver to take it apart and you can't do much harm, so don't be shy! Just open it up and see what you can see.
Agreed, there's no way to replace a single note and probably no longer any way to buy a replacement reed bar either. If super glue doesn't fix it for you, I'm afraid it's probably rubbish.
Thanks so much for showing how they actually were put together/made/work. Great content, clear and interesting. And beautiful playing.
Oh man, I love these weird little things!
I have the smaller one that only has the major chords, I picked it up off of the curb, and I brought it home, and I was pleasantly surprised. Luckily mine is in nearly perfect tune. They are so much fun to play.
Me too! It was a most wonderful Christmas gift from Santa!
I can't help but to remember the big book of funeral hits for the Magnus Chord organ. With the included grief cord chart.
Good grief!
@@255f145c15w if grief could be good!
Thanks for that! Your demo made me get one.
i just pulled one we had in our shed out. it has lots of droppings and dust in it. thank you for posting this, it will help me clean it out and get it back to working order in no time.
though mine is a modelno.990, they should be relatively the same.
Mine had some little droppings in it also, tons of dust, and a few odd little things which had fallen in there over the years, but I didn't think the filth needed to be in the video. :-)
Dang, I want those chords for Amelie. Looks like a fun song. Also, I want to learn how to use the chords to play a song. I have a chord organ and it has at least two dozen chord buttons!
The music and chords are out there if you search for them. You're lucky to have so many chord buttons. There are so few on my little instrument that they're almost unusable. Songs need to be transposed or specifically written for it, or else I always seem to have a missing chord.
I had one of these! I wish I still had it!😞😞
I found ome for 10 bucks today
@@iidentifyasayoutubertoday7025 That's cool man, try to make some music
It's really a melodica with a vacuum cleaner motor.
Basically!
I have the same one from this video in the 70’s. That is how I learned to play piano and went on to several band instruments and guitar. Wish I still had the little organ. It had only 1 volume, LOUD…
I tried putting it on a dimmer switch to control the fan speed in order to add dynamic expression capability, but as it turns out the reeds inside only work with a good amount of air going through them. Even when controlling the air pressure it was only 1 volume, LOUD. 🙂
I'm glad I came across your video. I just purchased a Sonola Organ from a pawn shop, same mechanism as yours, just a little bigger. Before buying I tested it so many times and it worked fabulous (hence I bought it). So when I brought it home I put the unit standing in vertical position for a couple of hours until I find some find of tall stand. Then I proceded to sanitize and disinfect it with some antivurus spray. (corona virus thing) I was very careful so I used a cleaning towel to avoid spraying the solution directly. Then I finally plugged and turned the unit on , but it takes a long time to work, the sounds is very low, I can barely hear anything, some keys don't work at all, they don't produce any sound and the chord keys on the left side don't produce any sound either. I also notice the fan emits a louder sound. It wasn't this loud when I tested at the pawnshop. What do you think would be wrong ?? Did the antivirus solution entered inside the unit by accident and cause some fuse malfunction ? Did I damage the reed mechanisms or fan by putting the unit in vertical position for a couple of hours?? Again, the unite was in perfect working condition , I tested it several times before buying it. Your help is greatly appreciated. !
I'm going to take a guess that standing it in the "vertical position" - does this mean you stood it on its end? - is more likely to blame than the disinfectant. Especially if you only wiped it on, rather than sprayed it. Possibly the fan has come loose from its housing? I would unplug it and try taking it apart like the OP has done and seeing if anything seems wrong inside. They are simple machines.
My first advice would be to get a screwdriver, take it apart, clean whatever you can clean, and see what happens. They're simple devices, so cleaning is most likely all it needs.
@@marknowlin8356 I was able to take it apart, Apparently nothing is broken or loose inside. However, I'm sure that by standing the unit on its end messed up the key bed big time. It's a weird mechanism. Each key is attached by title springs and has to be perfectly "Aligned" to touch some metal surface at one end and a hole on the other to make a sound. Otherwise, it doesn't produce any sound at all. Standing this instrument on its end is enough to cause damage. . I mean, it doesn't break anything, but it "Dis-Alignes" the key mechanism. When placing this unit in vertical position, the metal underneath each top key causes extra weight on the key below and consequently makes them get out of place.
Also, it's super easy to take a key out, but extremely difficult to put it back in. There's a great change of breaking the the springs when trying to put back a key.
My instrument doesn't work properly anymore. Now just 5 keys at most produce a very weak sound, the rest nothing! I messed it up big time ! Maybe I need to find some old organ repair shop , but at the same time I wonder how much they would charge. It's all artisanal work and I assume a lot of labor hours need to be involved. Thanks for your advice though !
@@JeremyBorumComposer I did that and doesn't work. I agree it's a simple device, however, its a complex artisanal mechanism. There are no motherboard or chips at all, but the keyed mechanism has tiny springs connected to try pieces of metal and each key has to be aligned perfectly on both sides ( one to a metal surface and the other to a hole) to produce a sound. When I stood this instrument in vertical position for a couple of hours, my assumption is that the metal on the upper keys caused extra weight on the lower keys and messed up the whole mechanism. Nothing looks broken or loose but the keys went out of place maybe by a 10th of a mm , but still it was enough to cause damage. Thanks for your advice though !
@@realsoda9404 That sounds a little more complex than my little unit, but it also sounds like it's a matter of careful adjustment and not anything that's permanently broken. I wish I could offer a little better advice, but keep fiddling and best of luck with it.
I have the same one. Got it at a goodwill for $20. The main keys stick really bad, I can press them and they break free but will get stuck again over time. I cleaned the outside, but now looking at the back I am guessing the previous owner smoked and that fan blew the sticky nicotine and tar through it, so where the keys setting needs cleaned. Thanks for sharing this. I really expected it to be more complex than that. lol
This was was very full of dust, sticky from what I suspect was a soda spill, and complete with mouse droppings. A bit of a wash in the sink sorted all of that out.
Its like a (South Asian) Harmonium but with a fan instead of the hand pump... Pretty cool
Couldn't have chose a better song to play with one. That sounded amazing haha. Buying one for $25 today same one as yours but no stand. Has major and minor chords but am gonna thoroughly clean out all reeds ad I noticed it's not perfectly in tune but that's the norm with these things I'm finding.
Cool Jeremy, thanks. I am messing with Delmonico Chord Organ. Made in West Germany. I want to take it apart to clean it, but it's built a little different than the organ tear downs i seen on the tube. Got any advice? Thanks
They're pretty simple inside, so don't be afraid to open it up. Accordions are relatively simple inside also, and these are basically accordions with a fan instead of bellows. If any notes are behaving oddly, make sure the felt or leather that closes up the holes is sitting evenly around the opening. Clean it, but don't oil anything. Take pictures along the way if you think you will forget something. Other than those little tips, you'll probably be fine. Good luck!
¡Muy buen sonido! Pero toca en puros menores. ¿Qué no puede tocar algo en mayores?
I had a Bontempi PK88, the sound is similar
Just found one for free. Plugged it in and the lights in my room flickered lol. I should've asked if it worked before taking it
There's nothing more than a fan inside, because it's basically a funny accordion with a blower. You could probably swap out the fan if you wanted to.
I have a similar organ but the stand broke along with some of the brown plastic parts on top of the organ. Does anybody know how or where to look for a place that I can find a stand and possibly repaired? (based in Denver)
what is the name of the song that is playing?
La Valse D'Amélie by Yann Tiersen, from the film Amélie. It was originally on accordion.
Thanks 😁😁😁😁
Wha song did you play?
Sound familiar 🤔
La Valse D'Amélie by Yann Tiersen, from the film Amélie. It was originally on accordion.
@@JeremyBorumComposer Nice!
I remember watching that movie 😊
sir, I have a problem, mine doesn't sound, it starts but no sound😢
If you hear the little turbine working, my first guess would be that the air is escaping and not providing enough pressure to the reeds. You only need a screwdriver to take it apart and you can't do much harm, so don't be shy! Just open it up and see what you can see.
I have one of these! the seem simple, but you cannot glue or fix them if you snap a plastic pin. one note is just farts now.
Agreed, there's no way to replace a single note and probably no longer any way to buy a replacement reed bar either. If super glue doesn't fix it for you, I'm afraid it's probably rubbish.
Who invented the organ in gothic cathedrals? Nobody really knows...