[analogorgans] Re: Need help with Rodgers 147!

Honestly, I've never seen a Rodgers 147.... the only 147 I ever saw was 
actually a Leslie speaker... is that what you have?  judging from the 
speaker compliment you have it sounds like you might have a jamestown 100 
or scarborough 110.   You can find out by reading the Rodgers tag under 
the key desk.  I've moved many a console, but I prefer to use Roll-or-
Karries, which slip under the ends of the instrument and are strapped 
into place.  That eliminates a lot of the front-heavy tendencies and 
gives you handles for the move down the steps.  

Just my .02 worth.


Order your copy of "Sounds of Grace" at:  http://tinyurl.com/a52nl

Tom Hoehn, Organist
CFTOS/Manasota/OATOS/HiloBay/WHOC
First United Methodist Church of Clearwater 4/9? Wicks/Ruffatti/Rodgers
Roaring 20's Pizza & Pipes (substitute) 4/42 Wurlitzer
http://www.theatreorgans.com/walnuthill/tomhoehn.htm
http://www.theatreorgans.com/tomhoehn


-----Original Message-----
From: "Thomas W. Nelson" <twnelson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: analogorgans@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 22:58:18 -0500
Subject: [analogorgans] Re: Need help with Rodgers 147!

> Kevin Sterling wrote:
> 
> > Noel Jones suggested I email the group with my needs.
> >  
> > I am acquiring a Rodgers Model 147.  I will be moving it in a few 
> > days.  I am not familiar with Rodgers organs, so I need guidance as
> to 
> > how to move it carefully and what to watch out for.  I know it weighs
> > in excess of 600 lbs. without the pedalboard, so I will have enough 
> > men on hand. 
> >  
> > How do I remove the pedalboard?  That is my first question.
> 
> Simply lift it slightly in the front on each side to disengage the 
> retaining pins and slide it back carefully.  I helps if two people are 
> doing this, one on each side.
> 
> > I plan to lift one end of the console at a time and put a 4-wheel 
> > furniture dolly underneath each end, then to wheel it to a door. 
> From 
> > there it must be carried down some steps to a parking lot and waiting
> > truck.  Is there anything to watch out for or be careful with like 
> > places not to lift from, etc.?  Should I just lock the roll top down 
> > during the move?  Can the console be lifted by the desk on either
> side 
> > of the manuals or only from the very bottom at the floor?  I would 
> > hate to damage it by making a mistake for lack of knowing what I'm
> doing.
> 
> I move my 60s & 70s vintage Rodgers consoles basically that way with a 
> pair of those dollies.  Unless the 147 is radically different from what
> I'm familiar with, you should be able to use this approach.  If there 
> are handholds in the back (I think there should be on this model) you 
> should lift there and under the console side overhang on the front; you
> don't have to lift from the bottom.  Don't lift under the keydesk,
> since 
> the framing there isn't strong enough to take the stress.  Make sure 
> that if the dollies don't span the entire width of the ends, that they 
> are centered between the adjustable feet or it will be unstable.  One 
> technique I use to ensure the dollies stay put while wheeling it across
> various surfaces and up/down ramps is to wrap a couple of rachet
> tiedown 
> straps (usually one isn't long enough) around the whole arrangement, 
> across the top, down the sides, and underneath the dollies, with 
> appropriate padding, then crank them up snug.  I don't do this for more
> than one step, though, since the wheels would just be in the way.
> 
> General warning: it will be seriously front-heavy, so you'll need to be
> very careful to ensure more lift effort is applied to the front vs. the
> back.
> 
> I would recommend locking the rolltop down as it will protect the keys.
>  
> Just be very careful not to lift or apply any pressure to the rolltop
> or 
> you may split the wood (I've had to repair such damage someone else
> caused).
> 
> > Next come questions about the speakers.  Obviously, I have to 
> > disconnect them.  Where do they plug into the console?  If I take the
> > console back off, will this be obvious?  At the speaker end, which is
> > quite remote from the console, there are 4 cabinets.  I could not
> tell 
> > how the cables plug into the speaker amps.  I am concerned about not 
> > knowing how to reattach all these cables correctly once they are 
> > disconnected.  There are wires in walls that will not be accessible
> to 
> > remove.  Among the speaker cabinets is one labeled W6 and another 
> > large one labeled P4.  Then there is one about 36x44x13 with rows of 
> > what appear to be 6x9 speakers only.  Finally, there is what looks 
> > like a small Leslie with a rotator inside.  The P4 will not be used 
> > initially.  Is there a way to set the organ to use just the other 3?
> 
> Bernie has good recommendations on the speakers.  The connections in
> the 
> console will be obvious, at what's called the 'output panel', with 
> marked connectors for each channel.  The W6 is normally used for the 
> flute channel, the M13 (the one with all the 6x9s) for the diapason and
> reeds, and the P4 for the pedal.  There's probably also a specific 
> output for the Leslie cabinet (I'm not sure which model it might be).  
> There should be an output configuration that will allow you to route
> the 
> pedal output though the W6 instead of the P4, but you'll need some tech
> info on that instrument to figure out how to set it up correctly.  It 
> will definitely sound better with the P4 on the pedal channel, though.
> 
> -- Tom Nelson
>

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