The Novachord Restoration Project

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:30 am

Paul, since you are also into keyboards I thought you might enjoy this.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:52 am

Ken, from 1937, that's amazing...

What a warm sounding keyboard.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:45 pm

Fascinating. Just read every word and looked carefully at every picture, and I feel like it's WORK.

The Novachord's predecessor was the Solovox, I believe from 1937. This was a monophonic, portable synthesizer which generates its tones the same way as the Novachord--entirely electronically (no electromagnetic tonewheels like a typical Hammond).

Back in 1965, I could not afford a VOX or Farfisa (have made up for it since!), but I did notice a Hammond Solovox advertised in a local newspaper for $40.00. I asked my uncle (who played in a polka band, worked for Admiral Television as an engineer, and owned a lightshow banjo that he built himself) about it and he assured me that it was an electronic, not reed, unit, and told me it was a good buy.

I took it home on a bus, all 15 miles, cleaned it up, and played it. Unearthly sci-fi sounds to me, but I soon had it installed in a VOX-looking case and was using it on gigs. It dated from 1937 and was in perfect condition.

I once asked my uncle what the organ was on "Telstar". He told me "Novachord". He was wrong, but the name stuck with me. Now that I have seen this one, all I can say is, "amazing!".

string_along · Post by **string_along** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:24 pm

"Telstar". The other perfect theme song for Star-Trek. Bones, Spock, Scotty and Kirk would be doing the background vocals. A grand space adventure kind of song.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:04 pm

Wow, what a job! It's no wonder not many have attempted it. But he is right, it does sound "freaking amazing!"

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:41 am

Another spot to go for some fine restorations is the The Music House Museum. They have a number of keyboard instruments and mechanically played devices from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. My favorite is a Weber Duo Art Grand Piano. This is one of six produced (if my memory serves me right). They have a roll made by George Gershwin playing A Rhapsody In Blue. Unfortunately the web site does not show much (they want you to buy a ticket I guess). It is located in Acme, MI on the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay. It is very close to The Bear.

rumbush · Post by **rumbush** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:53 am

Great anecdote, Paul W.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:23 am

Thanks, Oliver. Imagine me bringing that thing home on the Western Ave. bus during rush hour--12 long miles, with a stop about 8X a mile...

Here's what one looks like:

The keyboard has standard-width keys, which are shortened to about 2" long, so that the unit can be fastened underneath a piano keyboard, to be played by the right hand as a melody instrument. It takes some discipline, as it is monophonic and if a chord is played, it selects the lowest note.

The keyboard component is connected to the amplifier/generator unit via a 1/2" diameter umbilical cable, wrapped in maroon silk, that has a couple dozen wires inside. Mine had a huge, 24-pin rectangular Amphenol connector on the end.

Though the amp/gen only had an 8" speaker, the entire unit--finished to look like the furniture of the time--measured about 20" wide X 24" high X 10" deep, and weighed about 40 pounds (this is from memory). It had no carrying handle.

After I built the keyboard into a modern cabinet (looked like a cross between a Vox Connie (styling) and a Fender Rhodes Celeste (size)), I still had to contend with the old-fashioned amp/gen, which I covered with black Tolex. What's a 17-year-old with limited resources to do?

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:33 am

Seriously not trying to hi-jack this thread, but since I have all you keyboard, like, 'geeks' collected in one spot...say a dude had a Vako Orchestron he bought new in 1978 for $2,500, it's currently in 'like-new' condition, and it's complete with the manual and the full set of sound discs that came with it...and say that same dude was looking to generate some cash. What would you guess such an object might bring in today's exciting marketplace? I know it's kind of a freakish thing...more a curiosity than a useful 'axe', and I'm sure one can download Orchestron samples (like many other classic keyboard sounds) from the web, but this one is the real deal and they only made fifty or so..."from what I have heard"...a 'must have' for all collectors of 'Bob Moog' memorabilia.

I also have a carcass (with most of the parts) of an identical model...a 'boneyard', as the mechanics say...that someone gave me to back mine up with. It hasn't been borrowed from...part of the package deal if I, I mean: 'this dude', decides to sell.

So...your best guesses? (Thanking you all in advance....)

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:18 am

This is a very specialized item, as you know.

You might try posting it on the Yahoo! Combo organ group. These people are most interested in analog keyboards, and I feel that this would generate a fair amount of excitement in this very active group. I think you could get possibly $1K if one of them has some spare cash lying around.

As for eBay (in case you wuz thinkin'), my feeling is that if it's not a Gibson/Estey G101 or Vox Continental, it will die there. You would not see $300.00...

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:49 am

Thanks, JJ...sounds about right (if a bit unfair! This thing's like havin' a Dymaxion in your garage). Don't know if I'll go for it or not...

Oh well...it's good, really, that a hunk of metal and plastic doesn't keep its value as much as a nicely carved chunk of wood...

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:52 am

Ebay is where large organs go to die... until freaks like me come along and snap up Hammond T-524's for $30...

And damn, does it sound GOOD!!! We're done recording a little Christmas EP on it, mixing tonight...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:49 pm

Dane, I've forwarded several inquiries on it to you. If you are interested in selling, these guys were told that it will not be given away...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 12:06 am

Will we get to hear any of it Bob? Seeing as how we almost helped you unload it off the truck it's the least you can do.....

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:42 am

Paul, thanks man...please note my new e-mail address (listed on my profile...sorry, should have mentioned that).