Restoring an 1868 Prince Melodeon
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- This small 4-octave Prince melodeon was built shortly after the Civil War in 1868. Since 1933, it was owned by the family of General Joseph T. McNarney who became commanding general of the U.S. Forces in the European Theater during World War II. His granddaughter's family gave it to me for restoration in the Spring of 2023.
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Nice little video. Glad you shared.
Those old brass reeds sound much warmer and similar to brass wind instruments. At least over RUclips audio.
You gave it a new life so it can be enjoyed again!
Great craftsmanship 👌🏼 Now it looks and play so beautiful
Wow! I have the 5 octave version of this instrument. It looks exactly the same except for the 5th octave. I got it over 30 years ago in an antique store in Boston, MA. It had no badge or name. So seeing your video was a real treat! Thanks!
Sounds very nice. Thank you for restoring it
beautiful restoration:)
Made right here in Buffalo, New York. Geo. A. Prince Co. was hugely successful for a time.
Nice work
Nice video
Excellent video, Bill. Thank you.
We have one of these that was handed down through the family. It was restored at one time and the bellows repaired or replaced.. it looks playable except that the rods were lost over time. Would you happen to know details regarding their length and how they attach (I'm guessing there was a pin at the bottom). Wondering if a couple of dowels cut to the right length would do the trick.
Dowels should work OK. On mine, both have metal locating pins on the bottom, and the right one has a locating pin at the top. The one on the left has the wood tapered to a point that fits into a lever. Yours may be different.
Hey man, I just found one of these old prince melodeons at a thrift store today. It’s in seemingly good condition. Im planning on restoring it but have no idea what to do. Was wondering if I could send you pictures of it and some advice on where to start ?
A good place to start is with the Reed Organ Society (reedsoc) and look for their in-depth article on Reed Organ Repair. Also, there is a Facebook group "Reed Organ Tech" that offers a lot of help.
I have one of these and would like to restore it. I have no idea where to get cloth (leather) for the bellows.
The rubber coated bellows cloth can be ordered from Steve's Piano Service. Leather can be ordered from Columbia Organ Leathers.
I was just given a Mason & Hamlin that is almost identical to this one in your video. I have quite a few organs in our house, from a Conn 650 to a Lowrey Prestige A-5000. Also quite a few Italian chord organs. The gift was thoughtful but this organ is a total MESS. My question is, do you restore these for yourself or do you do this as a service and at what cost. I'm in Connecticut so if you're not within a few hours I guess it doesn't matter. IE California etc. Loved your video. Thanks.
I do this as a hobby, and not as a service. There are very few people who know how to restore these. You might inquire on the Reed Organ Tech group on Facebook to find someone in your area who would be willing to do the work for you.
Very informative, and much appreciated, as I have begun a similar restoration of the same model, serial # in the 28,000 range. I wonder, where do you source this bellow material?
I get mine from Steve's Piano Service.
What's the music your are playing? It's beautiful
It's my arrangement of "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (an old tune called "Resignation" by Charles Callahan)
"My Shepard will supply my need,
Jehova is his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed
Besides the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake his ways.
He leads me for his Mercy's sake
Down paths of truth and grace."
@@billooms6507 would love to buy a copy! let me know if possible.-Phil
@@philphil8388 I don't think I can send an attachment via RUclips comments here. Send me a PM via FaceBook (or regular email -- you can find my regular web site by searching my name)
Bellissimo 😍
I just had a quick question what would be the price on resale also price of restore
Those of us who do restorations do it for the love of the work and love of the instruments. A restoration will cost more than the value of the restored instrument (unless it is a particularly rare or desirable instrument, or has sentimental value). The material cost can be from $200 to $1000 and the labor from 1 to 4 months depending on the complexity of the instrument.
Hello sir. I'm starting some restoration on a Prince Melodian from approximately 1874. I have some technical questions. Is there a way to contact you?
There is a Facebook Group called Reed Organ Tech where a number of us will answer technical questions for those who want to restore reed organs.