Skyrock Farm
has a Horse Riding School, but it also houses an
extensive collection of theater and mechanical player organs. There
are pipe organs of varying size and function. At least 3 are played
from keyboards. Owned by Bill Nunn.
Notes about the dance organs:
- The number of "keys" designation refers to the holes in
the cardboard books. Some keys are attached to
pipes/percussions. Others control swell box positions, lights
on/off, moving characters (some have conductor statues out front
with batons that move!)
- Most organs are on 9” of wind pressure (or more!)
- Most have swell boxes and “two dynamics” (loud and super
loud!)
- The Vox Humana ranks are all brass, usually UN-enclosed
(so you can see them) and have their own trem system.
- Most have (and did from beginning) electric blowers (two
can be pumped in his collection)
They were often in dance halls (no need for a live orchestra
with one of these).
- Most run on “books” (made out of cardboard sheets)
instead of rolls. More stable and long-lasting.
- He has a person who replicates old “books” so they can
play again.
- They even have a “tuning book” which slowly sets pipes
in unisons and perfect intervals.
- Most ranks are only complete (chromatically) in the
higher octaves. Lower/longer pipes only have a few (unison,
5ths, etc.) to round out bass notes.
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Organ inventory:
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