Post date: Aug 13, 2014 4:02:18 PM
7 April 1966
Tomorrow we are driving to the Harz, so you won’t get another letter for a couple of weeks.
As soon as we get back (Good Friday and Easter Monday are holidays) we spend two days dismantling the organ; then Thursday we drive to Neuss. The past week we have been working like mad to finish the console. I was electrician, and made around 1,000 electrical connections—and this is a tracker action (mechanical) organ with only electrical stop action. I think I would build it a bit differently (and a lot more simply) if I had the chance. I mentioned my ideas to the master, and he looked into it. I think if I researched the costs a little further it would go over with Herr Kleuker.
Kleuker has several patents in Germany on some excellent ideas which he uses but aren’t patented in America. I think Kleuker should take out patents if he is going to sell organs in the States. Perhaps we could license other companies to use the ideas (which are really good).
My demonstration organ is coming right along. Unfortunately I won’t have much time for about a month (while we are in Neuss) but the frame and about half the mechanical parts are made. I have glued the aluminum frame together with epoxy glue. Works very well. I heat the joint with a candle to make it harder. Looks good with no rivets or screws. All together it will be about a foot wide, two feet deep, and three feet high. If I have enough time I’ll make a removable case to compare the sound quality with or without case. Hope to make the pipes (17) myself. Think I can buy a little electric blower in a surplus store when I get home.
Went to sport car racing Sunday. Time trials on an uphill road. Only a few really interesting cars. An Alfa Romeo had by far the best time, exempt for a specially built racing car. They just blocked off a couple of miles of mountain road, and the people stood on the hills. Quite well organized, tho. Saw two Lotus Elans, which I would like if the didn’t cost $4,000 and if I had a job. I’ll have to visit their factory when I’m in England.
Tschuss (a German form of leaving)