[Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 112, Issue 59



Hi Greg,

The Organette is a member of the blow accordion family, and a cool
instrument to play.  Unlike the melodica, which is blow only, blow
accordions play on both blow and draw and are single action, like
harmonicas and diatonic accordions.  It's keys are set up exactly like
those of a single-row melodeon, or cajun accordion: ten melody keys for the
right hand and two bass/chord keys for the left.  The melody keys are tuned
similar to those of a German-style tremolo harmonica.  The lower of the
bass keys plays the tonic fundamental on the blow and the dominant
fundamental on the draw. The upper bass key plays the tonic chord on the
blow and the dominant chord on the draw.

It's been a good few years since I've worked on one, but I recall that the
reeds are set in with accordion reed wax.  By now, the wax in your
Organette is probably dry, brittle, and prone to cracking, leaving the reed
plates loose and rattling.  If the wax turns white and powdery when you
scratch it, it should be replaced with new reed wax.

The valves are most likely leather, and may or may not have become stiff.
 Italian leather reed valves are unsuitable
as replacement material because they quickly become stiff after drying out
from playing.  PVC accordion reed valves, like Hohner uses today, are also
unsuitable because they're smooth and will stick to the reed plates when
wet from breath condensation.  The old-style German leather reed valves,
like on the Organette, are no longer available to my knowledge.  Your best
bet may be either to recondition the original valves or replace them with a
synthetic leather, like Ultrasuede.  If you choose to recondition the
leather valves, take a look at the video I posted on the subject:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrUKEeQ1UU

Some old leather valves will remain too stiff after being re-curled as
shown in the video.  I've found that if you re-curl them again with the nap
side out, and then yet again with the grain side out, repeating this
procedure as many times as necessary, you can reduce the valve's tension to
the desired amount.  And as I say in the video, the only cement that should
be used for leather valves is shellac.

Best regards,
Rick

>
> Message: 11
> Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2012 12:02:14 -0600
> From: Greg Jones <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Hohner Organette
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAKZoQMPTTnsMvEc3c7bhidGwc6cxqn_rD9sBhhGp2GLYr76YAQ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Merry Christmas and may the Lord find you all in his favor!
>
> Anyone out there have any information, pics, data, or playing samples on
> the Hohner Organette.
> I'm helping a customer out and working on one.
>
> Pretty old piece of gear.  Looks like mix between a clarinet, bassoon and
> sax.
>
> --
> *Greg Jones*
> *16:23 Custom Harmonicas*
> *(210) 445-6600*
> *http://1623customharmonicas.com/* <http://1623customharmonicas.com/>
>
>
>



This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.