BANDOLA MODEL 125 BAND ORGAN
Made by Johnson Organ Co. Fargo North Dakota USA
in the early 1970's
for
G.W. MacKinnon Seller of Automated Musical Instruments
USA
Made by Johnson Organ Co. Fargo North Dakota USA
in the early 1970's
for
G.W. MacKinnon Seller of Automated Musical Instruments
USA
I purchased this Bandola April 2021 here in Canada and will be doing a full restoration over the coming months. If you own one or know of anyone who has one operating it would be great to head a sample of the music it is capable of.
Ron
Ron
The Bandola Model 125 (Shown as Model 105 in the catalogue) was sold by G.W.MacKinnon who was one of the largest dealers of automated musical instruments.
Mac MacKinnon had these built by the Johnson Organ company of Fargo, North Dakota.
As far as I know around 17 were built and sold between 1973 and 1984.
They sold for $6.995.00
Mac MacKinnon had these built by the Johnson Organ company of Fargo, North Dakota.
As far as I know around 17 were built and sold between 1973 and 1984.
They sold for $6.995.00
JUNE 25 2021
Here is a picture of the restorations new façade as mentioned in the MMD June 25 2021 Lots more pictures of the work involved to make the façade etc. below.
I created the design from the Wurlitzer 153 on the bottom (and drum wings) and the Artizan C-2 on the top, This design shows off the brass snare and bass drum while the Artizan design really fit with the carvings I had. (Also my favorite combination :-))
The Glockenspiel is 27 notes and able to play Melody (14 notes) and Trumpet (13 notes)=27 notes total.
The band mistress head will move back and forth gazing at the crowd.
Right hand conducts, and left hand rings the bell with the bass drum & cymbal.
The façade will also be illuminated with LED lights mounted on the outside edge of the carvings, Approx. 20 meters of LED tape will be required. The system is by Govee and features the ability change color and motion with the music being played by the organ.
Here is a picture of the restorations new façade as mentioned in the MMD June 25 2021 Lots more pictures of the work involved to make the façade etc. below.
I created the design from the Wurlitzer 153 on the bottom (and drum wings) and the Artizan C-2 on the top, This design shows off the brass snare and bass drum while the Artizan design really fit with the carvings I had. (Also my favorite combination :-))
The Glockenspiel is 27 notes and able to play Melody (14 notes) and Trumpet (13 notes)=27 notes total.
The band mistress head will move back and forth gazing at the crowd.
Right hand conducts, and left hand rings the bell with the bass drum & cymbal.
The façade will also be illuminated with LED lights mounted on the outside edge of the carvings, Approx. 20 meters of LED tape will be required. The system is by Govee and features the ability change color and motion with the music being played by the organ.
The next two "YouTube videos" were made to show off the new lighting system that is made up of three sets of Govee LRD (Light Emitting Diodes Red Green & Blue synced to the music) Unfortunately I used my phone so the sound and video is not the best. Ron
Restoration started early April/21 but here is a You Tube video showing the progress to date June 3 2021.
Restoration begins April 10 2021
Pictures are in reverse order so please view from bottom of this set showing the order of removal of the various items.
Pictures are in reverse order so please view from bottom of this set showing the order of removal of the various items.
Work continue with the restoration of the pneumatic stack. I had the great fortune of having an unused Wurlitzer player stack that a customer purchased at an auction 10 years ago in my inventory. The old stack that MacKinnon used is identical only shortened to fit the instrument and the number of valves needed by the Bandola's scale. The big problem is the plastic tubing originally used secreted oil over the years which litterly filled the pouch area of the valves with a super sticky substance which also hardened the rubber pouch of the original valves.
Please view from the bottom of this set to the top for correct order of work.
May 15 2021
Restoration moved to the snare drum and midi design, build and install.
The MIDI system is now the next item to be added to the instrument
Restoration moved to the snare drum and midi design, build and install.
The MIDI system is now the next item to be added to the instrument
May 20 Work continues; One item worth mentioning that in order to do any repairs or tuning etc it is impossable with the way the instrument is build because the spool frame is attached to the roof and to remove the bass pipes the roof must be removed. to remody this problem I cut the roof in 3 pieces so now the pipes can be removed and the spool frame stays in place making working on this instrument much better.
Also the vacuum motor was mounted on the movable top of the pressure bellows which meant the weight of the motor effected the pressure springs, also the heat from this motor was very high which heated the inside of the instrument at least 20 to 30 deg F!! this of course is very bad for the pipes and made it impossible to keep it in tune.
I have now moved the vacuum motor to the back of the instrument so the hot air blows out through the lower grilled doors.
Just a note if you are in need of the Wurlitzer style valves which are used in this instrument contact Mr. Robert Loeffler a restorer of mech music in FL, USA. 407 234 4747 who may have the parts you need for these valves.
Everything is rewired using proper gage wires and grounded which was not in the original build..
Also the vacuum motor was mounted on the movable top of the pressure bellows which meant the weight of the motor effected the pressure springs, also the heat from this motor was very high which heated the inside of the instrument at least 20 to 30 deg F!! this of course is very bad for the pipes and made it impossible to keep it in tune.
I have now moved the vacuum motor to the back of the instrument so the hot air blows out through the lower grilled doors.
Just a note if you are in need of the Wurlitzer style valves which are used in this instrument contact Mr. Robert Loeffler a restorer of mech music in FL, USA. 407 234 4747 who may have the parts you need for these valves.
Everything is rewired using proper gage wires and grounded which was not in the original build..
Some items that will improve the operation of this instrument are;.
*Lid was cut in three sections, the center section supports the spool frame and all of the tubing so it must be there but the two side lid panels are now hinged which will allow for the removal of the trombones to service etc.
*The vacuum motor was moved to a new shelf located at the back of the instrument above the reservoir, I opened the vacuum air outlet as you can see in the pictures which blows the very hot air out the back of the instrument. The temp inside the instrument now stays constant where before it would go up 20 to 30 deg changing the tuning of everything.
*27 note glockinspiel is being built which will play the melody and trumpet sections.
*Midi system installed playing hundreds of midi 125 Wurlitzer files from Gold Leaf Galleries and others.
*New case design which means to lower the drums which were also replaced with brass snare and base drums.
*Completely rewired for a 3 wire grounded system with all new switches for safe operation.
*Case design is an Artizan C-1 Band Organ top and a lower section simular to the Wurlitzer 153 which was taken from the Gustov Bruder design of Waldkirch Germany.
*Lid was cut in three sections, the center section supports the spool frame and all of the tubing so it must be there but the two side lid panels are now hinged which will allow for the removal of the trombones to service etc.
*The vacuum motor was moved to a new shelf located at the back of the instrument above the reservoir, I opened the vacuum air outlet as you can see in the pictures which blows the very hot air out the back of the instrument. The temp inside the instrument now stays constant where before it would go up 20 to 30 deg changing the tuning of everything.
*27 note glockinspiel is being built which will play the melody and trumpet sections.
*Midi system installed playing hundreds of midi 125 Wurlitzer files from Gold Leaf Galleries and others.
*New case design which means to lower the drums which were also replaced with brass snare and base drums.
*Completely rewired for a 3 wire grounded system with all new switches for safe operation.
*Case design is an Artizan C-1 Band Organ top and a lower section simular to the Wurlitzer 153 which was taken from the Gustov Bruder design of Waldkirch Germany.
The picture above on the right is a Mackinnon Calliope with music roll player and the Bandola styal 125. Both appeared in Mac's catalogues in the 1970 and both are in the shop for restoration together,
The following pictures below, show the laying out of the new façade using a bunch of old carvings I had laying around the shop.
The following pictures below, show the laying out of the new façade using a bunch of old carvings I had laying around the shop.
The following pictures show the creation of the two drum wing new facade's
June 19 2021 progress to date;
Now the façade will be given several coat of white primer paint which will really bring out the beauity of the carvings which will then be resealed with a spray 24k gold paint in preperation for gold leafing.
Now the façade will be given several coat of white primer paint which will really bring out the beauity of the carvings which will then be resealed with a spray 24k gold paint in preperation for gold leafing.
June 25/21 Above picture shows Progress to date with facade painted etc. Now work continues onto the Band Mistress automation and illumination etc.
January 2022 I completed the hand carved wooden Band Mistress. Shen is completely removable and all electric motions. Her head turns slowly (1 min for complete L toR and return. The Right hand conducts the orchestra while her Left hand keeps time by ringing a silver bell. Her costume is formal with a large feather hat to really get attention;
In January 2022 I completed the large 27 note Glockenspiel, I had created the pneumatics and main chest when designing the new case but finally customer work promised for 2021 was completed and back to this fun project. The Glock plays both the Melody and Trumpet sections of the Wurlitzer style 125 music. The trumpets play solo so the glock is orchestrated and also allows all of the music to be heard if you want to turn the trumpets off for indoor playing as they are quite loud.
January 2022 I completed the instrument with the addition of installing LED lights. I used three sets, I set for the left and right drums wings, One set for the organ centre lower section featuring the Glockenspiel and the third set for the top of the centre section featuring the brass trumpets and pipe work.
Below is a second video of the organ playing with the lights set to accompany the organ and also a video showing the organ doing a light show; This was used back when the organs were used on the Bioscope shows so that when the show was on in the tent behind the stage which had the organ, the organ would continue to draw a crowd gor the next show but not play any music to interrupt the show going on.
Below is a second video of the organ playing with the lights set to accompany the organ and also a video showing the organ doing a light show; This was used back when the organs were used on the Bioscope shows so that when the show was on in the tent behind the stage which had the organ, the organ would continue to draw a crowd gor the next show but not play any music to interrupt the show going on.
