The Duplex Pipe Organ and Blower Company Ltd

Today was progress on two fronts that included stage one in resurrecting the unbelievably damaged millns motor. Regrinding the front shaft and machining a new thrust plate. More to follow! Oh and cutting oil ways in big old 1920’s Discus bearings plus pulling apart a slightly abused meidinger of more modest dimensions.

I’ve seen some pretty abused motors in my time but this is definitely one of the worst. It had previously been ‘repaired’ but can’t help but feel most of this damage must have occurred whilst being repaired which is a bit ironic! Another challenging salvage job!!!

I’d just like to send a thank you out there to all following my exploits. I never really thought people would be interested but flying solo as an aging dinosaur it’s good to know there is some interest out there. Hopefully be posting the Dublin resurrection soon amongst other projects.

Finally five sets of component parts made for cymbelsterns! What a marathon! Shown are all the machined bits bar clappers and one complete unit ready for its variable control box. The first two will be these nine bell versions with four clappers.

Time for a competition interesting one with no prize!🤣 but where are we today???🤔

One we did some years ago in great nick but for the belts which to be fair have lasted over a decade but now a nice new set fitted and adjusted just right to not preload the bearings!!

Second visit was getting a long overdue blower out for repair but solo. To be honest I’d forgotten two keen facts 1. You couldn’t get within 100 yards of the church with a vehicle!🤣🤣 2. The blower in question was a single phase X10B from the stable of BOB Derby! That information is really only significant if you know just how heavy an X10B is!!😂😂😂. Getting out of the enclosure was the first fun and games then onto my bogey the second. Luckily as I was wheeling out of the church a group of community service people were tidying up the church yard and one big guy was fascinated by this midget rolling a giant hairdryer across the frontage!😂😂 After explaining I asked if I might get a little help just getting in the van. He was great very enthusiastic and we had it loaded in one fail swoop. I offered to pay him for his kindness but he refused and yes I know technically they have to but I felt bad about that so treated him to some home made chocolatey thing instead. A confection I make for friends and family. He was chuffed! This got me to thinking that in these dark times everyone is first and foremost a human being. Just treat people with kindness and respect and do your best to help each other and you really can’t go wrong. Everyone has a story and it’s always best not to judge!

Today was a first for me!!! Taking on another big old blower and the very first service, come inspection, visit what do I find apart from the usual dark and dirty oil iridescent with wear deposits???? Cat litter😂😂 yes you heard me actual cat litter in the oil reservoirs!!! Chalking that up as a new experience!!🤣🤣🤣

More cymbelstern widgets!😂😂😂

Knocking out cymbelstern flywheels that carry the clappers. To make them universally adjustable makes for quite a bit of machining! Last t slot to go!!😂😂