Organ question

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electrolux-dude

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2006
Messages
500
Location
Canyon, TX
Hi all. Well, ever since I moved into a smaller home, (14X70 mobile home ) I miss having my Allen organ in my home. I had.it moved to my church because I figure it would be too wide to fit through the door of my home. I have the opportunity to purchase a Rodgers organ and am wanting to put it in my home. My question is this :: Do they have organs that are 30 inches wide, from the back of the console to the front of the keyboard? If it's no more than 30 inches wide it shouldn't be a problem? Rodgers are similar, in quality, to. Allen? I'd like to have another Allen but will be satisfied with a Rodgers. I have already contacted the seller of the organ requesting measurements.
 
Livingston

I have an old Livingston 2-manual which is only 24" front to rear. I would imagine that most consoles would be designed to fit through a standard doorway.

All best

Dave T
 
"to wide to fit through door"

Reminds me of a time I was fortunate to visit Stan Kann with Tom and others.Stan played his personal organ that filled a small sun porch and told that when it was moved from CA the door and frame had to be removed.(This was an older house with large doors.)
 
Jimmy, that organ..

Was a Rogers Theatre organ, Stan got it new in the late 60s, I heard it in LA.
 
Would it be possible to move the organ on its side? The piano movers do this all the time with upright pianos. They need to lay down a bunch of moving blankets on the floor and turn it up on end and then slide it over the blankets and turn the organ around the door jam. I would call movers that work for an Allen organ dealer or specialized movers trained in dealing with pianos and organs.
 
A Hammond

Can be moved any old way, but as for anything else they might be more fragile.
 
Not quite true with a Hammond -- if you move it on its side, all the motor oil inside will spill out and make an awful mess, especially if it was recently filled.

Some piano and organ movers also don't know that you have to lock down the keyboards before moving a Hammond -- there are four bolts underneath the keys that must be tightened.
 
It is true with Hammonds with the old school rotors but when the switched to the analog system then it is no problem. The oil leaking should not be a big problem unless the organ has been over oiled as is the 2nd biggest problem with oiling (the 1st no oiling at all). The vacuum tubes are also sensitive to moving in general. They can work loose or caused to leak turning the glass a foggy white. This is one of many reasons I stated to bring in mover specialists.

To the matter at hand with the Allen. I use to deal with Allens when the dealer I work for carried them. The only danger in placing the organ on its side is with the circuit boards themselves. The case, keyboards, wiring, etc. are tough as nails. The danger comes from the boards moving out of place and coming un-connected and it jolted hard enough damage the circuits. This can happen in moving in general with analog systems whether its straight, on its side or upside down. The digital system is even more durable. You have to keep in mind how many Allens have been lifted, hoisted, tilted, scooted, and knocked around into high up church lofts, awkward partitions by church altars, portable staging, outdoor staging for revivals, college/university practice rooms and homes.

Where there is a will, there is a way.
 
I do believe Rodgers has or used to offer a smaller model or two that were I think 28-30" wide.
I myself considered buying one buy decided against it with my access to the custom digital organ I play at our church.
 

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