Gremlins

[teddy]

What is the worst, most disasterous, expensive or funniest incident you have experienced due to these little devils?

teddy

[Corno Dolce]

Oh Gosh - Where do I begin? I have had too many gremlin-induced faux-pas to count - Well, like the one time I had set combo-pistons for a wedding but forgot to lock the memory, and so a gremlin had "cancelled" my settings and "added somethings" - The result was that "Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring" had the 'caged rage' sound, ergo Bombarde Harmonique 16, Trompette Harmonique 8, Clairon Harmonique 4, Clairon Octaviante Harmonique 2, Clairon Piccolo Harmonique 1, and Neuf-Cymbale V 4/9' billowing out from the Solo Manual........GRRRRRRRRRRRR

[dll927]

Pistons probably have to be one of the greatest gremlins around. Thre are still a lot of organs around that don't have various memory levels. So if there is more than one organist around, tempers can flare up.

Does anyone have a handle on what it costs to have an existing organ converted to having memory levels? That is a relatively new twist on things (maybe the last twenty years or so), so some still have to catch up.

I've seen more than one church organ with some kind of note from the regular organist NOT to change pistons. And since doing it is pretty much a routine operation, it can be done without another person knowing -- until it's too late.

[Krummhorn]

In a former church in California, we had a (then) new Allen digital (MOS 600-DK) with the NAR (North American Rockwell) sequential Capture action. The back-up for the capture system were two 27 vdc batteries, which would hold things for about 5 hours. One Saturday night, very late, there was a power outage that lasted more than 5 hours ... of course, unknown to me, all my combination settings were erased after the batteries died ... Imagine my shock when pushing the general piston for the opening hymn, when every single stop was "on". Thankfully, the GC still worked. Allen later designed a capture system with rechargeable battery backup.

. . . Does anyone have a handle on what it costs to have an existing organ converted to having memory levels? That is a relatively new twist on things (maybe the last twenty years or so), so some still have to catch up.

The last quote I had a few years back was $12,000 (USD) to update our present electro-mechanical console and outfit it with a combination action.

I've seen more than one church organ with some kind of note from the regular organist NOT to change pistons. And since doing it is pretty much a routine operation, it can be done without another person knowing -- until it's too late.

So true ... however, most organists have this general "code of understanding" where we don't change anything ... period. If I need to change things for whatever program I am playing, I will make a list of every combination piston/general showing all stops and couplers. When I am through with the program, I make sure that I have set them back, or at the very least, leave a neat typed listing of the original combinations.

I have had similar experiences that my fellow colleague, CD has had ... and it is an "awakening" experience for sure. For my own church organ, there are only 4 generals, so it really doesn't matter if someone else changes them.

[teddy]

Had one in my BMW last year. Came out of the office and it started misfiring like mad. Did not dare switch off in case it would not start again. The engine management warning was flashing on and of and the central locking developed a mind of its own. On arriving home I switched off and then restated her. Ran like a dream and has done ever since. No problem was ever found. ?????
teddy

[White Knight]

Had one in my BMW last year. Came out of the office and it started misfiring like mad. Did not dare switch off in case it would not start again. The engine management warning was flashing on and of and the central locking developed a mind of its own. On arriving home I switched off and then restated her. Ran like a dream and has done ever since. No problem was ever found. ?????
teddy

Teddy, that's kind of spooky. Sounds a little like that Stephen King story--Christine, I think--where the car had a mind of its own.

[Dorsetmike]

Teddy, that's only a problem on todays fancy cars, too much to go wrong, and when it does go wrong you need a mortgage to pay for the repairs, my 1960s Ford had no such problems.

[teddy]

I know Mike. But we get used to electric windows, automatic air conditioning, central looking etc and tend to feel lost without them. I am planing to buy a Morris Monor for use in my retirement and I know it will take a while to get used to the lack of gadgets

teddy

[Dorsetmike]

Teddy, not a Moggy please, such a cult thing, plus 0=60MPH? ... ... maybe this month provided there's a following wind and a long enough downhill road.

[teddy]

Always loved the moggie. My favourite uncle used to drive them. No road tax, 85 ponds per year insurance, sod all for maintenance and up to 45 mpg. Depreciation does not exist if you care for them and it would probably outlast me.

teddy

[Alban Berg]

In a former church in California, we had a (then) new Allen digital (MOS 600-DK) with the NAR (North American Rockwell) sequential Capture action. The back-up for the capture system were two 27 vdc batteries, which would hold things for about 5 hours. One Saturday night, very late, there was a power outage that lasted more than 5 hours ... of course, unknown to me, all my combination settings were erased after the batteries died ... Imagine my shock when pushing the general piston for the opening hymn, when every single stop was "on". Thankfully, the GC still worked. Allen later designed a capture system with rechargeable battery backup.



The last quote I had a few years back was $12,000 (USD) to update our present electro-mechanical console and outfit it with a combination action.



So true ... however, most organists have this general "code of understanding" where we don't change anything ... period. If I need to change things for whatever program I am playing, I will make a list of every combination piston/general showing all stops and couplers. When I am through with the program, I make sure that I have set them back, or at the very least, leave a neat typed listing of the original combinations.

I have had similar experiences that my fellow colleague, CD has had ... and it is an "awakening" experience for sure. For my own church organ, there are only 4 generals, so it really doesn't matter if someone else changes them.

It sounds awful!

LOL

Martin

[Snow White]

Had one in my BMW last year. Came out of the office and it started misfiring like mad. Did not dare switch off in case it would not start again. The engine management warning was flashing on and of and the central locking developed a mind of its own. On arriving home I switched off and then restated her. Ran like a dream and has done ever since. No problem was ever found. ?????
teddy

Dearest teddy you re booted it like your computer how clever

[teddy]

Snow White,
I certainly felt like booting it at the time.

teddy