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Discussions => Other Free Reed Instruments => Topic started by: Adam-T on November 22, 2012, 05:32:15 PM

Title: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Adam-T on November 22, 2012, 05:32:15 PM
Amazing what a Tenner will get you, got this last week, couldn`t resist , had to take it apart to see what makes it tick (though had a good idea) ..

Badged Lorenzo but made by Busilacchio, interesting because rather than the usual 8 or 12 chord buttons (or if you`re very lucky, 16 button stradella with basses) , it`s all keyboard and 4 octaves worth .. the reeds are decent quality, on individual aluminium plates and glued in which is a good idea as it only plays in one direction and cuts the need for servicing (no wax to change). there`s no grille for the air input, just relies on the case letting in air , makes it a lot quieter (relatively silent)

Anyway here`s the pics , there`s even a webpage on these organs..

Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Adam-T on November 22, 2012, 05:34:15 PM
Note the typically Italian styled plastic pallets and the concertina like reeds (bar shape) . the Organs I`ve seen before have been brass reeds riveted straight to the main frame of the organ (early Magnus) or entire moulded strips of plastic reeds glued to the plastic soundboard  (Bontempi)  ... steel reeds on individual plates is a big deal here I guess

Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: rees on November 22, 2012, 06:47:06 PM
Very nice indeed - my little Hohner Organetta 3 has a really noisy blower.
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Mike Hirst on November 22, 2012, 06:50:53 PM
Great purchase. I must confess a genuine liking for these things. I used to play one in a band set up. No analogue output, but a mic overhead picks up not just the rattle and clack of an accordion, but the motor noise and organ blower too !!!
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Mike Hirst on November 22, 2012, 06:57:11 PM
Very nice indeed - my little Hohner Organetta 3 has a really noisy blower.

 I had great fun explaining to sound guy that the clack and the wheeze were in important element of the sound when we appeared as the last band on the main stage on the last night of the very last Elephant Fayre (http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/elephant_fayre_1981-86.html).  >:E
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Adam-T on November 22, 2012, 07:05:35 PM
Rees, I nearly got one of those green  plastic organettas off E-Bay for a fiver + postage and if it had more keys I may have bidded ....

I always liked them too Mike, this one sounds like a harmonium on one stop, the Magnus I had was noisy and short of breath (the Brass reeds wouldn`t have helped that) . shouldn`t be too hard to put accordion mics inside this one but Miking it up is simpler.. could always put a hole in the bottom or rear to add bellows when the power goes out ;-)
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: pikey on February 14, 2013, 01:44:33 PM
I've got one very similar that I've had for nearly 50 years!  The blower sounds like a Hovercraft  ;)
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on February 14, 2013, 02:52:47 PM
I've got one very similar that I've had for nearly 50 years!  The blower sounds like a Hovercraft  ;)
[/quote

Well, you obviously never slept with my Missus.
( acknowledgements to Eric McGill, seaside postcards)
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Adam-T on February 14, 2013, 03:17:39 PM
this one is quite silent (so's the Missus thankfully) ..
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: oggiesnr on February 14, 2013, 08:06:54 PM
Amazing what a Tenner will get you, got this last week, couldn`t resist , had to take it apart to see what makes it tick (though had a good idea) ..

Badged Lorenzo but made by Busilacchio, interesting because rather than the usual 8 or 12 chord buttons (or if you`re very lucky, 16 button stradella with basses) , it`s all keyboard and 4 octaves worth .. the reeds are decent quality, on individual aluminium plates and glued in which is a good idea as it only plays in one direction and cuts the need for servicing (no wax to change). there`s no grille for the air input, just relies on the case letting in air , makes it a lot quieter (relatively silent)

Anyway here`s the pics , there`s even a webpage on these organs..

I've got one with 48 Bass stradella, the blower's a bit noisy however.  Four quid at the local car boot.

Steve
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: pikey on February 15, 2013, 04:10:20 PM
Amazing what a Tenner will get you, got this last week, couldn`t resist , had to take it apart to see what makes it tick (though had a good idea) ..

Badged Lorenzo but made by Busilacchio, interesting because rather than the usual 8 or 12 chord buttons (or if you`re very lucky, 16 button stradella with basses) , it`s all keyboard and 4 octaves worth .. the reeds are decent quality, on individual aluminium plates and glued in which is a good idea as it only plays in one direction and cuts the need for servicing (no wax to change). there`s no grille for the air input, just relies on the case letting in air , makes it a lot quieter (relatively silent)

Anyway here`s the pics , there`s even a webpage on these organs..

I've got one with 48 Bass stradella, the blower's a bit noisy however.  Four quid at the local car boot.

Steve

Thats cheap for a Missus   ;)
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Mike Hirst on February 15, 2013, 06:16:57 PM
A friend of mine got a goldfish for his missus last time the fair came to town. Fair swap.  >:E
Title: Re: 1960s Busilacchio Reed Organ
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on February 15, 2013, 10:17:23 PM
A friend of mine got a goldfish for his missus last time the fair came to town. Fair swap.  >:E

Oh God!
I was in court today .  Result?
15 love.
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