Celebration: A 122-Pipe Handmade Organ

New York-based electronics engineer Michael Falco set out on a unique mission four years ago: to scratch-build a carousel band organ based on a Wurlitzer 105 Military Band Organ, circa 1919. He based his build on a 1978 spiral-bound publication titled, “Wurlitzer Building Plans and Voicing Tips, Model 104/105,” authored and self-published by R. M. Stanoszek. He also utilized the knowledge of the online band organ community to inform his build. Michael will be showing his organ, named “Celebration,” at our annual World Maker Faire New York, taking place on September 21 and 22 at the New York Hall of Science in Queens.

In his own words:

My goal was to construct a band organ that looked and sounded like an original. While I achieved those goals, I nevertheless incorporated modern technologies where it could be done discreetly. The instrument has 122 pipes divided into 9 ranks, constructed of wood and brass, that speak via moving pressurized air. They include: 18 piccolo, 18 flageolet, 16 trumpet, 12 cello, 18 violin, 5 bass cello, 18 melody flute, 12 accompaniment flute, and 5 bass bourdon. The pipes are variously of types: cross-blown flute, open flute, stopped flute, open Frein Harmonique, brass resonator. It also has a bass drum, snare drum, and cymbal. Dimensions are 6’W x 2.25’D x 5’H, weight 340lbs, and is operated, moved about, and displayed in a factory-customized 6′ x 10′ Haulmark trailer. For the electronics, I am using 3 microcontrollers: Arduino Uno, Arduino Mega, Atmel-based Midio128 card, driving 132 pallet magnets. The player/controller is a custom Android app running on a Google Nexus 7 Tablet. Control is wireless using Bluetooth serial communication. All firmware, software, and the custom app were written by myself.

Here is the front detail:

Back:

Sides:

In its factory-customized Haulmark trailer:

Celebration playing Zwei rote Rosen, ein zarter Kuß: