Hello All;
Very happy to have found this group. I'm still reading the fascinating files on harpsichord making submitted by Ernie Miller.
While nowhere near the level of some or most of you folks, I enjoy what woodworking I'm able to have time for. One day soon, I'm to start on a cherry bookcase I've been promising my wife for some time. After that, I must build a storage shed, and am planning on a size of 12' x 12' for material storage. My hope is to free up enough shop space for a 12" planer. My shop is now 12' x 25' and crowded.
At one point about 2001, I spent about 3 years, in my spare time, building a band organ, or carousel organ. These were used from about 1890 into the 1940's on carousels or merry - go - rounds. They were played with paper rolls originally, but most of the old rolls have now been scanned and changed to midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files. That made my unit much easier to build, since I could control the opening and closing of 12V DC air valves with my computer.
It had 168 pipes on it, all but 23 of which were square or rectangular wooden ones, a 23 note glockenspiel, a bass drum, and a snare drum - cymbal combination.
I ended up selling the organ since I ran out of room for it. Sold the parts, since I couldn't get my desired price for the whole unit. Learned a great deal about various woodworking techniques, and many other processes too.
I've also restored a couple of old piano accordions, and they are amazingly complex. Much woodworking involved there, too. I've thought about building a cajun accordion from scratch, and have plans drawn up for one, but not enough time to do it just yet.
John
Very happy to have found this group. I'm still reading the fascinating files on harpsichord making submitted by Ernie Miller.
While nowhere near the level of some or most of you folks, I enjoy what woodworking I'm able to have time for. One day soon, I'm to start on a cherry bookcase I've been promising my wife for some time. After that, I must build a storage shed, and am planning on a size of 12' x 12' for material storage. My hope is to free up enough shop space for a 12" planer. My shop is now 12' x 25' and crowded.
At one point about 2001, I spent about 3 years, in my spare time, building a band organ, or carousel organ. These were used from about 1890 into the 1940's on carousels or merry - go - rounds. They were played with paper rolls originally, but most of the old rolls have now been scanned and changed to midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files. That made my unit much easier to build, since I could control the opening and closing of 12V DC air valves with my computer.
It had 168 pipes on it, all but 23 of which were square or rectangular wooden ones, a 23 note glockenspiel, a bass drum, and a snare drum - cymbal combination.
I ended up selling the organ since I ran out of room for it. Sold the parts, since I couldn't get my desired price for the whole unit. Learned a great deal about various woodworking techniques, and many other processes too.
I've also restored a couple of old piano accordions, and they are amazingly complex. Much woodworking involved there, too. I've thought about building a cajun accordion from scratch, and have plans drawn up for one, but not enough time to do it just yet.
John
