This is a total restoration of a Popper's Clarabella Orchestrion. Below are pictures as it arrived.

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SOUNDBOARD

Normally the soundboard is the 1st to be restored to give the strings time to stretch during the restoration process.Although its currently holding its tune. :-))

• Before Before
• Last restoration went around the decal... Last restoration went around the decal...
• All repairs where made and now the soundboard is completed!(with new decal) All repairs where made and now the soundboard is completed!(with new decal)
• All hardware was buffed and nickel plated in house. All hardware was buffed and nickel plated in house.
• Plate was guilded and felts installed ready to be strung. Plate was guilded and felts installed ready to be strung.
• COMPLETE!! And I must say sounds GREAT! COMPLETE!! And I must say sounds GREAT!
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• Before & After Before & After
• Before & After (back) Before & After (back)
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PIANO ACTION

This piano was previously restored many years ago in Germany. The wrong size hammers where used which made it impossible for the piano to be regulated.

• Before Before
• All felt was eaten by insects. All felt was eaten by insects.
• Before and After The polished part of the frame was covered by gold paint. Before and After The polished part of the frame was covered by gold paint.
• Because of the size, all the dampers had to be custom made. All felts and damper springs where replaced. Because of the size, all the dampers had to be custom made. All felts and damper springs where replaced.
• All felts and springs where replaced. All felts and springs where replaced.
• All NEW hammer butts. Normally if I can match the butts, they will be replaced. Being that this is a German action the butt flanged had to be altered for an exact fit. All NEW hammer butts. Normally if I can match the butts, they will be replaced. Being that this is a German action the butt flanged had to be altered for an exact fit.
• Putting action together. Being that we Nickel plate our own parts all action screws and other parts that are normally neglected in restorations are plated. Putting action together. Being that we Nickel plate our own parts all action screws and other parts that are normally neglected in restorations are plated.
• Here I'm building a capstan rail. This will aid in removing the loss motion in the action and help regulate the push rods. I have done this many times with Orchestrions and definitely worth the work. Here I'm building a capstan rail. This will aid in removing the loss motion in the action and help regulate the push rods. I have done this many times with Orchestrions and definitely worth the work.
• Complete! Instead of the action just hanging down it can be regulated perfectly. This way the push rods can be adjusted for the required clearance. Complete! Instead of the action just hanging down it can be regulated perfectly. This way the push rods can be adjusted for the required clearance.
• New hammers installed. New hammers installed.
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• COMPLETE WITH MANDOLIN RAIL COMPLETE WITH MANDOLIN RAIL
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• Before and After Before and After
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PUMP

• BEFORE pictures. There where flaps nailed over the original flaps and then nailed in a way that the flaps could not flex and breath. BEFORE pictures. There where flaps nailed over the original flaps and then nailed in a way that the flaps could not flex and breath.
• Pump bellows removed. The same issue with the flaps. Pump bellows removed. The same issue with the flaps.
• Here you can see the leather flap that was nailed ontop of the original. This made the pump very hard to run and put additional force on the connecting rods to the point that they had cracked. Here you can see the leather flap that was nailed ontop of the original. This made the pump very hard to run and put additional force on the connecting rods to the point that they had cracked.
• Put main board through a barrel sander to re-condition the surface. Put main board through a barrel sander to re-condition the surface.
• Covering bellows. Covering bellows.
• Completed bellow with stiffeners. This was another problem, the pumps stiffeners where binding not allowing the pumps to close. Now they are perfect! Completed bellow with stiffeners. This was another problem, the pumps stiffeners where binding not allowing the pumps to close. Now they are perfect!
• New exhaust flaps. If you notice, I mark acenter line so during installation I can make sure they are centered on holes. New exhaust flaps. If you notice, I mark acenter line so during installation I can make sure they are centered on holes.
• Completed Completed
• Journals for pushrods where warn and would make noise so new rods where inserted. Journals for pushrods where warn and would make noise so new rods where inserted.
• Pushrods On top are the old, bottom are the new. Notice the split from the pressure. Pushrods On top are the old, bottom are the new. Notice the split from the pressure.
• Complete!!! When restoring pumps we ALWAYS use leather! Complete!!! When restoring pumps we ALWAYS use leather!
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WOOD BLOCK

• Before pic.Build a woodblock from scratch. The snare drum valve body had enough room to add an additional valve and replicated the beater mechanism. It has a soft and loud beat. Before pic.Build a woodblock from scratch. The snare drum valve body had enough room to add an additional valve and replicated the beater mechanism. It has a soft and loud beat.
• before before
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PLAYER

• We alway make new Pneumatics. I think these are for the Xylophone and Bells. We alway make new Pneumatics. I think these are for the Xylophone and Bells.
• These are various Pneumatics needed. These are various Pneumatics needed.
• Completed Completed
• Original pouches. ZEPHYR SKIN!!! And are really still good. But will be replaced anyway. Original pouches. ZEPHYR SKIN!!! And are really still good. But will be replaced anyway.
• Custom pouch setting tool. Custom pouch setting tool.
• New pouches. New pouches.
• For the drum and snare valve body I upgraded to adjustable valves. Left is original, right is new. For the drum and snare valve body I upgraded to adjustable valves. Left is original, right is new.
• Completed stack Completed stack
• Showing the small pneumatic that operates the lock and cancel. Special care needs to be givin to these to regulate them just right. Showing the small pneumatic that operates the lock and cancel. Special care needs to be givin to these to regulate them just right.
• More lock and Cancels More lock and Cancels
• Various controls that have been restored. Various controls that have been restored.
• We digitally set all valves. No guess work done here. Everything is regulated evenly. We digitally set all valves. No guess work done here. Everything is regulated evenly.
• Setting snare drum valves. Setting snare drum valves.
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XYLOPHONE & BELLS

• Before Before
• Bells being polished and tuned. Most bells in Orchestrions are normally not tuned well. These ranged from 20 cents flat to 20 cents sharp. Bells being polished and tuned. Most bells in Orchestrions are normally not tuned well. These ranged from 20 cents flat to 20 cents sharp.
• All tuned. All tuned.
• New pneumatics New pneumatics
• Completed Completed
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• Xylohone bars originally had felt glued under the bars that was too wide. Replaced with original width. Xylohone bars originally had felt glued under the bars that was too wide. Replaced with original width.
• Tuning bars which only can be done with this program. A normal tuner cant hear the quick note tone. Tuning bars which only can be done with this program. A normal tuner cant hear the quick note tone.
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• Built a spring rail similar to the one used on the bells. This will give better even pressure than the original hinge springs. Built a spring rail similar to the one used on the bells. This will give better even pressure than the original hinge springs.
• Completed! Completed!
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MISCELLANEOUS

• This is a light cut off-on switch that was reproduced from a newer model. This is a light cut off-on switch that was reproduced from a newer model.
• Moving scene. Moving scene.
• Added a circuit for lights to blink like the larger units. Added a circuit for lights to blink like the larger units.
• Re-tubing with lead. Previously cut and rubber tubes where connecting them together. Re-tubing with lead. Previously cut and rubber tubes where connecting them together.
• added locks to side doors for easy access. Fabracated a brass insert to match original lock. added locks to side doors for easy access. Fabracated a brass insert to match original lock.
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********** COMPLETED**********

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**********VIDEO'S**********