This is a Balchin organ that I bought in March 1995

It was built by Late Jim Balchin Of Kennilworh, England, U.K.

Click on Picture to Hear It Play "Zand Zand"

The Organ uses the standard Raffin spool,(pressure box) and is 20Kl.

I am unsure to when it was built.

The front was made by Laurie Nichols of Basildon in Essex, and some of the internal workings were also re-built by him, it is at present being overhauled by organ builder Paul McCarthy.

It was purchased by a friend from the Late John Gammage in 1994, as a box of pieces, over the last 2 years it has been built up and the internal workings have been repaired, However it was still in an unplayable condition, so Paul McCarty from Basingstoke U.K was commissioned to overhaul the organ to perfect working order.

At present the organ is at the McCarthy workshop.

It will hopefully be painted before the new year sets in, I am hoping that it will have a picture of a windmill & a picture of my village church. (Watch this space!!)

!RECENT INFO!

While the organ was at the McCarthy workshop, the organ has recently completed stage one of the restoration, this includes:

The Pipework

The pipework is continental, and is voiced to a low pressure.

The lowest bass note has been saved, it was origianly thought beyond repair, but has been re-built.

The Bellows

The cause of many sleepless nights for paul, the bellows originally lined with card has been stripped and the exteremly large valves trimmed to normal size, it has been also found to have the stamp of late organ builder Jim Balchin on the insides.

However the organ is still short of wind, however it can play some rolls quite well, but more complex rolls make the organ gasp for air, even though the wind is supplied by two big double acting bellows.

Apparently the wind pressure is 5 inches.

The bellows have had new  wood stiffening boards replaced, as the old ones were made strangely of card.

The Bellows are also strange due to the fact that they are built from different wood, and not from a single type!! I think I was told that mahogany, and pine and a mix of other things were used!!!

The Puffs have been patched also.

The Case

The Case has now had brass corners added.