Exceptionally rare Hammond organ find

[brando_husky]

In addition to that Lincoln mark viii we picked up, I had originally gone to see this organ.

It is a 1939 aeolian-Hammond BA player organ with an equally rare cx20 tone cabinet.

It will be in my living room tomorrow!

They made just about 200 of these and only about 12 are known to exist anymore.

This one is functional with a small vacuum leak from the bellows so it struggles on rolls sometimes.


This comes from the collection of Phil Maloof who is a worldwide legend in the pipe organ community. He is the owner of the famous Chicago stadium Barton console. 51 ranks all installed in his music room along with a mighty Kimball 27 rank in its own chambers across from the Barton.

He also has about a dozen organ consoles from wurlitzer, Kimball, Barton, robert Morton etc.

Here are some of the Hammond pictures

 

[brando_husky]

Here are some of his other magnificent organs.

The gargantuan 6 manual Barton console is hooked up to a full 51 ranks of pipes and the huge red 5 manual Kimball console is at its full 27 ranks

The Barton is the largest theatre organ console ever built. It narrowly escaped a massive fire and was cut into quarters with a chainsaw.

It took 8 months and $250,000 to restore the console alone for the organ. The music rooms were built around these two fine instruments

 

[tolivac]

Beautiful collection of consoles adn organs---Can't play but sure appreciate them and love the organ music.A chainsaw--some IDIOT took a chainsaw to the Barton console?!For things like that chainsaws don't cut them--they RIP thru them!Magnificent restore job for what that Barton went thru!Any way to hear these????In one of my organ books the Barton main compressor was a 100hp OrgoBlo blower that ran from 3Ph 2500V!That was the orig installation in Wrigley Feild.Was any of the other equipment from the Barton saved?

 

[brando_husky]

Agreed. A travesty to cut up the organ.

Only the console survives sadly. But the curator built a magnificent spec instrument superior to that of the original using Barton, Morton, wurlitzer, Kimball and wicks theatre pipe work

Here's a good video demo of each instrument. Lots of videos out there on YouTube of both

 

[tolivac]

Glad the Barton is back to its former glory-sounds WONDERFUL!!!!Glad it is in a safe home!

 

[brando_husky]

Well that was a thing haha. 650 pounds of lifting later...

The organ is home. Just barely made it through my 35" doorway..

Awaiting power cord and oil from ebay to arrive.

 

[tolivac]

NICE!!!!!Neat to hear this one play!!!That would be an organ I could play-a unit with a roll player!!Figure the pneumatics was for the roll play system.That is so cool!!!!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Great that you

saved and are restoring that.

 

[brando_husky]

Quick wipe down before and after shots. Got some internal stuff to sort before it's playing.

 

[electrolux137]

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Wow, what a find! Did it come with any player rolls? I'd love to hear it play!

 

[brando_husky]

Yes I've got about 40 or 50 rolls included! Hope to get it working soon

Took the top off to inspect player. Have some tubes I need to replace to get it to function fully again