Piano-Organ combo

[John M. Ross]

Susan Kline wrote:

> At 03:02 PM 9/9/98 -0400, you wrote:
> >Dear list,
> >    I was just offered for a song a Jesse-French Piano / Lowery organ
> combo.  What the heck is it and how does it work?  Anyone seen or tuned one
> of these?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Bob Sadowski
> >Erie, PA
> >
> >Attachment Converted: "C:\EUDORA\ATTACH\Piano-Or.htm"
>
> Dear Bob,
>
> I have, oh, I HAVE! It had better be a short song!
>
> Jesse French ... the guy who brought us the Starck consoles ... I wonder if
> he was related to Winter? Well, that's not fair. Starck starting making
> Jesse French in 1955, and pretty goshawful they were, too.
>
> This hybrid is not hard to get apart. You have to unplug the fancy
> florescent lamp inside the music desk, which shines up at the music if it
> is still working.
>
> Then you get to tune the darned thing ... oh, joy! Mine was a pitch raise,
> and took me three or four passes (about a pass and a half more than usual.)
>
> Then I made my big mistake. I got curious and decided to tune the organ
> part as well! It is mounted to the inside of the kickboard, so you can fold
> it forward and see it in all its glory. There is a tool, which enables you
> to tune the 12 vacuum tubes and set a temperament ... easy, right? and it's
> at A440, easy enough to do that, so it matches the piano, right?
>
> So we played a tune or two with the organ on and the piano playing, too.
> Why anyone would want to hear this combination, I don't know, but evidently
> they thought someone would.... and the piano and organ were in tune
> together .... for about 3 minutes. Then the heat of the vacuum tubes threw
> my tuning decidedly on its ear. I mean, my tuning was a crumpled heap,
> lying gasping on the carpet. I had to go back the next day and do it all
> over again. I then warned the lucky owner that if he wanted the piano in
> tune he'd have to keep the organ firmly off.
>
> If the song is short enough, you could get ahold of the tarnation thing and
> use it to start a Museum of Technological Horrors.
>
> Just my humble opinion <grin>
>
> Susan
>
>
>
> Susan Kline
> skline@proaxis.com
>
> "I know exactly how long it will take me: whatever time is available, plus
> a little more."
>                         -- Ashleigh Brilliant

Hi,
The secret to the oscillators staying reasonably in tune, is to tune them after
the unit has been on for about 1/2hr. That way it is at operating temperature.
Regards,
JohnM. Ross
PTG Assoc.
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada