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By 1893, ESTEY had built in excess of 250,000 organs of various styles and designs. Always looking to improve, they set out to build the ultimate reed organ and created the Phonorium. However, this ultimate designed organ brought with it a price that halted the Phonorium of ever going into production. Consequently, there are only a handful of Phonoriums in existence today. Of these the Phonorium seen here has the largest musical specifications. Containing 12 sets of reeds, each set being complete and full with only two sets being divided and shared. The organ is built using a vacuum system. Behind the pipe facade (see Pipe Facade picture below) are the swell shades and behind the swell shades (see Swell Shades picture below) are individual chests that contain their corresponding sets of reeds. The chests are connected between two large wind trunks that run vertically. Each chest is complete and separate of other chests, which gives each set of reeds its own soundboard. The end result is a very powerful sound unequalled. An inherent fault of conventional reed organs with more than one set of reeds is the fact that they all share the same soundboard and consequently one set of reeds will "influence" the sound of another set of reeds. | ||||
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The Phonorium reeds all have individual cells and a valve per each reed. The valve is located on the outside of the reed cell so the vacuum works with the valve. A system of rods opens the valves, from the end of the keys, on the swell manual. The great has a vacuum assist (see Vacuum Assist picture below) which activates the rods. The entire system requires two levels of vacuum, a low level to supply the reeds and a high level for the vacuum assist, a chest which contains large pouches when activated, provide the power to push the rods.
In the photo you can see the main low level reservoir on the bottom, this is the full width of the organ. Directly above are the hinge ends of the six feeders, three supply the low level side and three provide the high level side. Above the feeders is the high level reservoir which contains ten 12# springs; it is reinforced with automotive seat belt straps. The original plywood had literally been pushed apart from the spring tension. Above the reservoir is the vacuum assist chest with the cover removed showing the primary valves. Here is a shot (see Coupler Mechanism picture below) looking in the back showing the individual chests and the pedal coupler mechanism. |
With Pipe Facade Removed
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Vacuum Assist |
Coupler Mechanism |
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Until recently, the organ was always handcranked.
We have been fortunate enough to find an original blowing machine for the organ. (See the two pictures) A conventional blower can not be used because of the two levels of vacuum required by the organ. A great loss of efficiency would occur due to the 'bleeding off' of high level vacuum to produce the large quantity of low level vacuum need to power this huge organ's 650+ reeds. Manufactured by James G. Rimmer, the gear reduction unit now takes the place of the hand crank. Commonly called the "Rimmer", a speed unit powered by an electric motor. The final drive is a chain driven sprocket. A "string", connected to the shifting trigger on the Rimmer, runs through pulleys, where it connects to the reservoir, As the reservoir opens and closes, it "shifts" the Rimmer to either high or low speed. So, when the reservoir opens, which means the vacuum level is decreasing, the Rimmer will increase in speed developing an increased level of vacuum. |
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Blowing Machine Picture #1 |
Blowing Machine Picture #2
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