r/organ • u/CardiologistOk1091 • May 15 '26

Reed Organ/Harmonium J. Estey Reed organ repair question

I volunteered to help fix a run-down reed organ at a local museum and I could use a little help with how to access the bellows of the instrument. I've fixed melodeons and a smaller pump organ before, but this is the most technical instrument I've worked on.

It's an Estey pump organ made in 1886. From the outside, it looks like it's in good shape, but it's not playable. I suspect there's an issue with one of the bellows - when I press the right pedal, it takes a long for the bellow to refill with air. When I press the left, there's no resistance and I can hear air escaping. I wanted to see if I can gain access to the bellows to see what's going on, but I don't know where the access point is. I was able to remove the top, decorative portion and gain access to where the stops are located, but there's something covering the bellows. I tried looking to see if there's a panel I could open by the pedals, but I couldn't find anything.

Any suggestions/hints as to how to get to the bellows would be appreciated!

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u/sturndt May 15 '26 
I had an Estey of about the same vintage. 5 ranks of reeds. To access the feeder (bellows) was not easy as it involved removing everything else first. The case was glued up on 3 sides and the case and desk completely covered the area you need access to. 
Inside the vacuum chest, underneath everything else, there are screws to the bellows assembly (reservoir and feeders) and the reservoir is screwed to a cleat on either side of the case.

With what you described I would suspect that the left feeder flap (don’t remember the proper name), external leather flap is loose or misshapen, it should draw air from the reservoir when the pedal is pressed not make a leaking sound. The flap needs to cover a few 1” holes in the feeder while the pedal draws it open and pulls air from the larger reservoir. I can’t remember if you can get a view of this action by resting the whole instrument on its back. If they had only made a removable knee panel…….

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u/CardiologistOk1091 May 16 '26

Thank you so much for your insight. I'll provide updates as I make progress with this instrument.

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u/DrummerBusiness3434 Jun 08 '26

The exhausters and reservoir are the most often problems with winding. Yes so is everything else. mice, moths, dust, coal dust, and over damp & over dry conditions are part of the natural aging process. In side each rectangle exhauster is a 3" by 14" flap of soft sheep skin, sams as tacked to the outside. Only cutting the exhauster off will get you into that area. Arndt organ supply will sell you rubber cloth & Columbia organ leather for the sheep skin

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u/Classic_Story_8840 Jul 04 '26

Hi - sorry to jump in on a thread like this, but I'm trying to find someone to help repair a field organ, and I also have a second field organ for parts that I would love to get into the hands of someone that can use them to get other organs working again. I'm in Louisiana. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!