Restoring an 1868 Prince Melodeon

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.ย. 2024
  • This small 4-octave Prince melodeon was built shortly after the Civil War in 1868. Since 1933, it was owned by the family of General Joseph T. McNarney who became commanding general of the U.S. Forces in the European Theater during World War II. His granddaughter's family gave it to me for restoration in the Spring of 2023.

ความคิดเห็น • 29

  • @kenzieprice6745
    @kenzieprice6745 5 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Nice little video. Glad you shared.
    Those old brass reeds sound much warmer and similar to brass wind instruments. At least over TH-cam audio.

  • @robertmdaniels
    @robertmdaniels 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You gave it a new life so it can be enjoyed again!

  • @choschiba-music
    @choschiba-music 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great craftsmanship 👌🏼 Now it looks and play so beautiful

  • @frugalaudio
    @frugalaudio 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Made right here in Buffalo, New York. Geo. A. Prince Co. was hugely successful for a time.

  • @matthewkane502
    @matthewkane502 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sounds very nice. Thank you for restoring it

  • @clydesight
    @clydesight ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow! I have the 5 octave version of this instrument. It looks exactly the same except for the 5th octave. I got it over 30 years ago in an antique store in Boston, MA. It had no badge or name. So seeing your video was a real treat! Thanks!

  • @jennfierkrueger8302
    @jennfierkrueger8302 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    beautiful restoration:)

  • @mikescott8225
    @mikescott8225 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Excellent video, Bill. Thank you.
    We have one of these that was handed down through the family. It was restored at one time and the bellows repaired or replaced.. it looks playable except that the rods were lost over time. Would you happen to know details regarding their length and how they attach (I'm guessing there was a pin at the bottom). Wondering if a couple of dowels cut to the right length would do the trick.

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Dowels should work OK. On mine, both have metal locating pins on the bottom, and the right one has a locating pin at the top. The one on the left has the wood tapered to a point that fits into a lever. Yours may be different.

  • @markjones5517
    @markjones5517 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice work

  • @Drinkingnectar
    @Drinkingnectar 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice video

  • @ggolds5
    @ggolds5 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was just given a Mason & Hamlin that is almost identical to this one in your video. I have quite a few organs in our house, from a Conn 650 to a Lowrey Prestige A-5000. Also quite a few Italian chord organs. The gift was thoughtful but this organ is a total MESS. My question is, do you restore these for yourself or do you do this as a service and at what cost. I'm in Connecticut so if you're not within a few hours I guess it doesn't matter. IE California etc. Loved your video. Thanks.

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I do this as a hobby, and not as a service. There are very few people who know how to restore these. You might inquire on the Reed Organ Tech group on Facebook to find someone in your area who would be willing to do the work for you.

  • @virginiavaleri2559
    @virginiavaleri2559 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Bellissimo 😍

  • @nikolasguerrero7247
    @nikolasguerrero7247 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hey man, I just found one of these old prince melodeons at a thrift store today. It’s in seemingly good condition. Im planning on restoring it but have no idea what to do. Was wondering if I could send you pictures of it and some advice on where to start ?

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      A good place to start is with the Reed Organ Society (reedsoc) and look for their in-depth article on Reed Organ Repair. Also, there is a Facebook group "Reed Organ Tech" that offers a lot of help.

  • @marycovell1097
    @marycovell1097 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have one of these and would like to restore it. I have no idea where to get cloth (leather) for the bellows.

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The rubber coated bellows cloth can be ordered from Steve's Piano Service. Leather can be ordered from Columbia Organ Leathers.

  • @tkbourne53
    @tkbourne53 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very informative, and much appreciated, as I have begun a similar restoration of the same model, serial # in the 28,000 range. I wonder, where do you source this bellow material?

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I get mine from Steve's Piano Service.

  • @scottatchameleongarage1583
    @scottatchameleongarage1583 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hello sir. I'm starting some restoration on a Prince Melodian from approximately 1874. I have some technical questions. Is there a way to contact you?

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      There is a Facebook Group called Reed Organ Tech where a number of us will answer technical questions for those who want to restore reed organs.

  • @petercowan
    @petercowan 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    What's the music your are playing? It's beautiful

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It's my arrangement of "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (an old tune called "Resignation" by Charles Callahan)

    • @mikesoule1352
      @mikesoule1352 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      "My Shepard will supply my need,
      Jehova is his name.
      In pastures fresh he makes me feed
      Besides the living stream.
      He brings my wandering spirit back
      When I forsake his ways.
      He leads me for his Mercy's sake
      Down paths of truth and grace."

    • @philphil8388
      @philphil8388 10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@billooms6507 would love to buy a copy! let me know if possible.-Phil

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  10 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@philphil8388 I don't think I can send an attachment via TH-cam comments here. Send me a PM via FaceBook (or regular email -- you can find my regular web site by searching my name)

  • @jodyorndorf9470
    @jodyorndorf9470 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I just had a quick question what would be the price on resale also price of restore

    • @billooms6507
      @billooms6507  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Those of us who do restorations do it for the love of the work and love of the instruments. A restoration will cost more than the value of the restored instrument (unless it is a particularly rare or desirable instrument, or has sentimental value). The material cost can be from $200 to $1000 and the labor from 1 to 4 months depending on the complexity of the instrument.