Pump Organ Picture Tour

Most pump organ owners have absolutely no idea how a pump organ works, or even what the inside of one looks like. So it seemed like a good idea to put together a modest picture tour of the inner workings of a typical 100 year old antique pump organ.

The most typical of all pump organs is called a "parlor" organ because they were usually placed in the parlor (or living room as it is called today). They were generally around four feet high (without a hutch) and a little less than that in width. They were usually made of walnut, or sometimes oak. To build one out of walnut today would cost a small fortune.

As you go through the presentation, I’ll provide you with some commentary on each photo. At the end you should be a little bit more knowledgeable about antique pump organs and how they work.

START HERE » 
(Note that this is a work in progress, and more slides will be added in the coming days...check back frequently to see the latest!)

(or select a specific slide from the list below)

• 1 - Inside the Back Panels
  Slide 1 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, inside the back panels
  
  
• 2 - Primary Action Areas
  Slide 2 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, primary action areas.
  
  
• 3 - Vox Humana
  Slide 3 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, the Vox Humana.
  
  
• 4 - Vox Humana, Refurbished
  Slide 4 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, the Vox Humana fully Refurbished
  
  
• 5 - The Stop Action
  Slide 5 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, the Stop Action
  
  
• 6 - The Stop Action, Restored
  Slide 6 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, the Stop Action fully Restored
  
  
• 7 - Another View of the Stop Action before Restoration
  Slide 7 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, another view of the Stop Action before restoration
  
  
• 8 - Close Up After Restore #1
  Slide 8 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, a close of of an area after it has been restored
  
  
• 9 - Close Up After Restore #2
  Slide 9 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, a close of of an area after it has been restored
  
  
• 10 - Close Up After Restore #3
  Slide 10 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, a close of of an area after it has been restored
  
  
• 11 - Close Up After Restore #4
  Slide 11 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, a close of of an area after it has been restored
  
  
• 12 - Stop Levers
  Slide 12 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, the stop levers
  
  
• 13 - Removing Stop Action Case
  Slide 13 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour: Removing the Stop Action Case
  
  
• 14 - The Dirt Inside
  Slide 14 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, showing the amount of dirt that can build up in an old pump organ
  
  
• 15 - Treble Keys Removed
  Slide 15 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour, showing the keyboard with some of the treble keys removed.
  
  
• 16 - The Key Frame
  Slide 16 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - The Key Frame.
  
  
• 17 - Partially Restored Key Frame
  Slide 17 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the partially restored key frame
  
  
• 18 - Restored Key Frame
  Slide 18 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the restored key frame.
  
  
• 19 - Pump Organ Keys
  Slide 19 of our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the keys have been removed for restoration
  
  
• 20 - Key Bushings
  Slide 20 of our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the key bushings
  
  
• 21 - Removing The Key Bushings
  Slide 21 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - these keys need to have their key bushings removed
  
  
• 22 - New Bushings Installed
  Slide 22 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - keys with key bushings replaced
  
  
• 23 - Restored Keys
  Slide 23 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - The pump organ keys...restored.
  
  
• 24 - Restored Keys
  Slide 24 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - a detail view of the restored keys.
  
  
• 25 - Sharps Cleaned and Repainted
  Slide 25 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the sharp keys have been cleaned and repainted.
  
  
• 26 - Key Frame Removed
  Slide 26 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the key frame has been removed
  
  
• 27 - Top View of Coupler
  Slide 27 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - a top view of the coupler
  
  
• 28 - Factory Fresh
  Slide 28 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - a view of the coupler fully restored
  
  
• 29 - Spray Painted Rods
  Slide 29 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - restored rods, ready for action
  
  
• 30 - The Reed Banks
  Slide 30 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - an overview of the reed banks
  
  
• 31 - In Need of Restoration
  Slide 31 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - reed banks from a pump organ in need of restoration
  
  
• 32 - Various Sizes of Reeds
  Slide 32 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - showing both the construction and various sizes of reeds
  
  
• 33 - Cleaned up Reed Banks
  Slide 33 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - cleaned up and restored reeds from a reed organ
  
  
• 34 - Upper Action Parts
  Slide 34 in our Pump Organ Picture Tour - the upper action parts restored and reassembled.