The Organmagnifique

A barrel organ built in Australia by Lionel Hartley (an original design).

This electro-mechanical organ uses a 16-track midi driver, and has 960 pipes in two ranks, a rank of 64 horns, a base drum, two cymbals, a set of 16 bells, and 32 brass reeds in two sets. (Not shown are the two solenoid-controlled snare-drums which also attach to the top). The bass drum in the centre looks to be the wrong way around but this is because the mechanical drumstick is operated from behind, throwing the sound forwards. It took about five years to build.

The wind source is a 110v rotary brush-less motor re-cycled from an old electric reed organ (which is where I obtained the two banks of reeds.)

By overlapping the pipes and horns (see photo below) and using flexible tubing, I was able to compact it to a tiny cabinet only seven feet wide by five feet tall and only two-foot-six-inches deep.

The pipes are all turned from aluminium except the lowest rank which are made of plywood and fit in underneath — the longest rank being 16 feet and wrapped around into three sections.

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