Barn Find Decap 70 key

Here is 3 YouTube videos made March 8 2025after 6 years of
on and off restoration work :-))

***Here is 4 videos made March 17 2025 showing the lighting effects of the new facade etc.

Barn Find Nov 6 2019
70 Key Decap of Antwerp
Dance Organ
This Decap 70 Key dance organ was located in a barn in the middle of Southern Ontario. It had been used many years ago at various events in the Toronto, and surrounding area. The owner was from the Netherlands and the love of the wonderful sound such instruments produce imported and used it for many years. Finally it was put in a barn, covered with a canvis and forgotten.
We will be restoring this once fine instrument back to it's original condition complete with a new facade which was only partly present.
BELOW ARE TWO VIDEOS I MADE IN DEC 2023. FINALLY THE INSTRUMENT IS MAKING SOME MUSIC. STILL LOTS TO DO i.e. BLOWER SOUND PROOFING, TUNING INSTRUMENT AND NEW FACADE. STAY TUNED :-))
But PLEASE SCROLL DOWN BELOW THE VIDEOS TO SEE HOW MUCH WORK IT TOOK TO GET TO THIS POINT :-)) Ron

Video BELOW of this instrument with new facade and LED lighting system as of June 18/24 playing MIDI arrangement by Arthur Bursens

Dec 12 2024 Progress on lighting effects using LED light systems found on Amazon to duplicate the original elaborate lighting systems Decap used back in the 1920. Next is to tune the instrument to the new Ludivox accordion (Video Below)

Restoration begins 2019 Decap of Antwerp Dance Organ.

April 22 2021;
Finally a little break from Customer restorations and back onto completing the Decap 72 key dance organ back to it's more original appearance back in 1920 Belgium, Over the years it's size was apparently cut down to fit smaller locations so I began by making the two missing side cabinets etc.
Also the two side columns from the original facade had been stored up in the rafters of the barn and will be going back into the new façade of course.
Also a midi system has been created by Klinger Organs which will allow this instrument to not only play it's original 72 key cardboard books but also midi which will allow many different styles of music to be played on this instrument including the original Decap of Antwerp but also Decap of Herentals, Mortier, Bursens etc as well as the very popular Dutch street organ music .
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Jan 2022 work begins on the percussion or drum section

*Above picture shows the completed drum percussion section*
Feb 2022 New LED lighting system is added to the drum unit which will interface with the elaborate light system of the façade which includes complete color changes of the instrument as well as the ability to play along with the organs music changing color to the time of the music being played.
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MIDI SYSTEM BUILD AND INSTALL
Feb 2022-
The following pictures show the building of a 104 note midi system that will operate the instrument from midi files.
The instrument will also continue to be able to be operated by the original music books

April 10 2022 work continues as time allows, The midi system is now completed and the following pictures show the lay out for the 97 key system which will allow for future additions. also a special midi board system has been build by Klinger organs for me which will allow for the music notes to be played by electronic audio systems which will give a similar ability as Decap used with their Hammond organs & Cordovox for that great dance music of the 50's Boogie woogie etc. Also music by Arthur Bursens as well as Decap.

Jan 2023 Work is once again started after a busy 2022 on other items.
I picked up where I stopped last year with the install of the midi system. The idea is for this instrument to be capable of playing several different style of instruments From dance organ to street organ. I have 2 different midi systems for the instrument now. The first to be installed is the Bursens 98 key midi system and the second one is the Decap 70 key midi system and hopefully the final one will be the Nederland Boekorgel midi for Dutch street organ music.
As you will see I have organized the instrument much like a keyboard or switchboard where every control or music note is available to be wired as per each different system.

Feb 23 2023 Update, Work has now moved to begin the marriage of the instrument to the Bursens midi files which starts with re organizing the various pipe registers. The 8 note bass pipes which include the large Cello rank has been split to balance the sound and to also make room for a second 12 note bass rank of pipes. By moving the Basses outside the organ case more room is now given for the additional pipe work soon to be installed.

Niv 2023; Work begins once again toward the completion of the music part of this instrument. Now it is the final go-through where everything is now restored but needing to fine tuned into doing the actual job it was intended to do on the wind pressure we now have with all of the many new parts being air tight again.
All of the pipe chests were removed and regulated to the new pouches and "bench" tuned to the pipes original pitch.

DEC 8 2023 the Decap is playing!! Still lots more to complete the music part of the instrument such as additional lock & cancel controls to accomidate the MIDI system which is actually playing Arthur Bursens wonderful music composed for a 98 key instrument so our little 70 key Decap is growing musically very considerable. The midi also lets me add remote midi controlled instruments such as the accordion on the right side of the instrument in the video but now electronically controlled instruments such as a "Hammond" organ of Accordovox accordion which Decap also used back in the 1950's to play "Boogie arrangements etc.

Next is the facade with various lighting effects so once again please stay tuned.
Ron

Dec 18/23 Work begins to create a new façade for the Decap Dance Organ.
The original owner had a design in mind so I have worked to incorporate into the new design with my own additions.
The original two end pieces with the lite coloms were also found in the barn and will be used in the new design.

Jan 15 2024 Work continues on creating a custom designed facade.
I am trying to keep the ideas of the previous owner alive by using several pieces of plywood he had cut out for the centre section which is a sort of Art Novu idea, We also still have the two side wings from the original Decap facade which were on the burn pile when the organ was found. So these two pieces will be incorporated into the design.
PICTURES ARE NOT ALWAYS IN ORDER OF WORK DONE, just CLICK ON A PICTURE TO ENLARGE IT

January 2024 work moves to a complete LED lighting system with color changing and motion as well as special illumination of each instrument as it plays as well as color changing effects in time with the music etc..

July 2024 Work now moves onto automating a Lidovox Accordion as the second accordion. Originally back in 1920's it did have two accordions but was revamped into a smaller instrument for the new owner who wanted to bring it to Canada when he moved from Belgium. It did work for many years in various locations commercially in Niagara Falls Canada.
Picture progress report shows from start to finish to convert an accordion to be played automatically by the
Decap Dance organ starting with the pneumatics which will move the accordion keys.

Aug 2024 Work now moves to the accordions player stack which for the Decap of Antwerp instruments is by pressure,

Here is a short video
BEFORE FINAL TUNING OF INSTRUMENT
to show the lighting system etc.

March 8 2025 Work continues over the winter to tune the entire instrument to A440 to match the accordions and new MIDI systems using MidiPlus and the Lidovox accordion.
As you know this instrument was put together using pipes, bellows and pipe chests etc. from old large dance organs made in the 1920's by Mr. Mostmans (Mrs. Mostmans is a Decap) in the 1950's and was kept as tuned in the 1920 to A435.
Now we are using midi files to play the Decap for a 98 key Arthur Bursens dance organs on a 70 key Decap instrument.
To fill in the missing notes we had Bill Kramer (Kramer Organs) make us a midi system for the 98 key Bursens scale with a special "midi thru" channel which only contains the actual music notes and not any of the various controls for stop changes, percussion etc.
that are in the midi files etc.
Now we can "fill in" the missing notes using the accordions and MidiPlus systems.
Also the blower in these Decap instruments are very noisy so we moved the blower into the new cabinet on the right side below the Keyframe where there is room enough to totally enclose the blower and also filter the air etc..
Soon new videos with the instrument coming to life tuned to A440.

Also thank you to the many many folks who have emailed questions etc.,