Inside the Estey Reed Organ #152172
All photos copyright 1994 by John K. Estell
Click on the image to view the full-sized photo...
Keyboard and stops
The keyboard is used to control the opening of the pallet, or reed valve, for
specific notes to be sounded. When a key is pressed, a pitman - essentially a
dowel rod - pushes down and causes the pallets for that key to open. This
allows air to be drawn through the reeds, if their stops have been pulled.
The stops - the knobs above the keyboard - are used to provide a linkage to
the desired function element. For this particular organ, stops whose names are
in black refer to speaking stops, which are used to control air flow to a set
of reeds through the use of mutes. Stops
whose names are in red refer to mechanical stops, which are
secondary controls, such as swells (mechanical volume controls)
and the vox humana.
Front with exposed reeds
Here we have a closer look at the detail of the stops and keys, and an overall
perspective of the relationship of the front reed pan to the keyboard. The
Vox Jubilante stop is pulled and the knee swell (the piece of wood above the
reeds) is engaged, thereby exposing the reeds. The front guide pin for the
keys are also visible.
Reed cells; open and closed mutes
This photo shows the reed pan containing the front reeds. Each reed
is contained
within a reed cell, whose shape has a considerable influence on the sound
produced by the reed. The last reed shown to the left is located at middle C,
which is the break for this particular instrument. On the left side of the
photo is a closed mute. When a stop is pushed in, the mute is closed,
preventing air from being sucked into any of the reed cells for a given group
of reeds. By pulling out a stop, the mute is engaged, allowing air
to enter the reed cell.
The reed will then freely vibrate whenever the pallet is open.
Above all of this is the swell board, which is operated by the
right knee. Shown in its open position, the swell allows for additional
volume control for the front set of reeds.
Reed hook and reed
The reed hook serves two purposes. At one end is a slotted screwdriver head
that is used to disassemble parts of the organ. The other end has a small
hook; this hook fits into a depression in the heel of the reed and is used
to pull out a reed for repair or maintenance. The reed is usually made out of
brass; the tongue is the free part in the middle of the reed that vibrates when
air passes by it.
The vox humana
The vox humana - "human voice" - is used to impart a wavering effect on the
sounding of the reeds that's similar to the vibrato of the singing voice. This
is done through use of a rotating cardboard paddle which interferes with the
sound as it passes from the reeds to the outside. It is engaged by a stop at
the console; a brake mechanism will immediately disengage the effect when the
stop is pushed back in. This instrument still has its original paddle, with
restoration of a couple of broken off pieces handled
with the use of scotch tape. The vox humana will have the greatest effect on
the Diapason and Dulciana stops, as the set of reeds that are shared by these
two stops are located in the rear reed pan.
This diagram, obtained from Restoring & Collecting Antique Reed Organs,
by Horton Presley (Vestal Press), shows the interrelationship between the
parts named above.
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John K. Estell - 10 December 1997