The Organ Forum

Hello all,

 My name is Jon Sotelo and I attend The Lords Church in Rancho Cordova California. The Pastor has asked me to sell the Hammond, Leslie speaker and Yamaha piano for some much needed money but I don't know ANYTHING about these items

 I don't expect any information on the Yamaha but here are pictures I have taken of the organ and was hoping someone might be able to help out.

http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/jsotelo5150/sale/

First off, the organ is locked and we can't find the key. We can't remember the last time it was used either. Any way to open this without cutting the lock?

Second, I don't know what model this is. Does anyone know that and what a fair price would be?

Any information would be a HUGE help.

 THANK YOU!

 Jon

 

regards the key:

check ebay, might be able to find one there....you can open the back of the organ up wtihout a key by unscrewing the 2 large screws on the back to take that off to gain access to the "innards" to see the builder's plate and find out the exact model.......

that that looks like a very nice matching Hammond B model of some sort and a Leslie 22H...in VERY nice shape............were it a B3 it could be worth around 3 or 4k or maybe more...B2...half that.......MINT B3's go for big dollars compared to other Hammonds or even other vintage electronic organs..seems to be the only Hammond model that there is strong interest in keeping the price higher on.......I think that photo of the back of the speaker shows it to be a 22H model..I'm guessing that is a single speed Leslie which will lower the price somewhat from what a 122 model in that shape would bring.......judging from the condition of the pedals and lack of scuff marks on the organ case itself you have something that could possibly go for a good amount of money irregardless.......don't see many Hammonds with matching Leslies in such nice shape so it could be something worth alot. Might just ebay it and see what it brings.




If in a very populated area the price could be much higher. .....

That is a very nice setup! no idea on price on the piano. :)

---

www.nycfarmboy.com
www.reuter822.com

The Key from any locking Hammond from 1936-1965 will work, they are all the same!  If you can find another Hammond owner, borrow.  If not, any petty thief with a hair pin can get in:  Have you converted any lately?Locking organs discourages adventurous future organists, and thus instruments sit unused and unappreciated.

NYCF is right if it is a B-3. It looks too new to be a prewar AB or BC, which leaves BV, B2 and B3 possibilities. Once your burglar gets it open, if there are 7 white rocker tabs beside the keyboard, you have hit B3 gold.  If there are 3 tabs, you have B2 silver, and with no white tabs, you get the bronze, it is a BV. The B2 is worth less and the BV a lot less. Though in fact they all sound as good, but the vagaries of fashon have decreed B3s the top. The Leslie speaker is what makes the difference, and whether a 122 or 145 it could bring up to 2k with connectors all by itself.

Lee 

---

If you can keep your head
when all about you are losing theirs
and blaming it on you
Its just possible you haven't grasped the situation.

When you look at the Leslie pics full size, you can see the back sheet says 22H.  So that answers that.  As far as the organ, if I were a betting man, I would bet a B2.  Mainly because of the 22H, and they seem like they would be matched, and are from similar time period.

First thing though should be to oil it if it hasn't been run or cared for in a long time.

If it's still running well, given the cosmetic condition, I would think they should be able to get 3 to 4,000.

-Jon 

---

"Unit" is a four letter word!

Thank you for the info everyone!

 I won't be able to make it back to the church until Sunday but I'll see if I can't pick the lock open. I'll also open up the back and take some pics to post.

 Jon

Got back from Church today and some good news and bad news.

 Good news is I opened up the back and it's a B3! It also has a can of Hammond oil in the back so once I get it open I can oil it.

Bad news is I'm still not able to open it up. I tried different hair pins and I just don't have the skills.

well just list it as a B3 when you ebay it......i would let the next buyer worry about oiling it at this point unless you are really motivated to just put a few dribbles into the oil pans to get the wicks working again.

---

www.nycfarmboy.com
www.reuter822.com

You have a completely intact Hammond B3 w/Leslie just sitting there??????? Saints and Angels!!!!!!!!

Fire that baby up and boogie   "Just over in the Gloryland" with a lot of gliss and slide, keep a bassline running on the pedals. I can feel the Spirit movin' already... Gllorrryyy!!

 You'll have 'em swingin from the chandeliers and wavin' their hankies....

Wouldn't work at all in my anglocatholic parish though...

Jon - Sorry your burglar skills need improvement. :-) Couple of suggestions. The Hammond keys are not a real complicated design as has been pointed out. First off, check in the bench. There might be one taped to the lid or laying in the storage area inside. Look for a small manilla colored envelope. It might be inside the owners manual if there still is one. If the organ is locked someone must have a key or know someone who did! I'll bet somewhere in the ministers office or the church secretary's desk there are bunches of extra keys and on one of those strings is a old Hammond key. Its a simple slim key. It will probably have a head with 3 rounded lobes that resembles a clover leaf. The shaft part is flat with no guide grooves. It is cut like a skeleton key, not a tumbler type lock. I suspect Hammond bought them from some other supplier. I suspect if you go to a good professional lockshop they may have some spares on hand and in not can probably order you one. But it will help if you can find a picture of one to show them. Don't neglect calling some of the technicians around your area. Chances are good one will have a key or know where to get one. And if worse comes to worst you can probably have a locksmith come to the church and get it open for you. For what the organ is probably worth you can afford to cough up some money to get it open. Don S>

dstory:

For what the organ is probably worth you can afford to cough up some money to get it open.

Agreed!  You can get one for less than 10 bucks after all:

http://www.tonewheelgeneral.com/build_page.php?category=Hammond+Organ+Parts&subcat=Fallboard+Keys

By the way Rick at TW-General is great to deal with.  Good luck and oh - congratulations!  That's quite a prize indeed.  -TD

---

"The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly,
Saying, 'Death to all those who would whimper and cry';
And dropping a barbell he points to the sky,
Saying, "The sun's not yellow - it's chicken."
-Bob D.

Also, I just saw this on ebay----

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-lock-key-Hammond-Organ-A-AV-BC-BV-B2-B3-Leslie_W0QQitemZ270226776726QQihZ017QQcategoryZ16219QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Buy-it now price $8.99 and they charge $5.00 packing and shipping.

Hope this helps!

 

Al

Thanks! I ordered a key today!!!

Jon

dude, this stuff is worth big bucks.I used to sell yamaha pianos.go to a store and see what this size is selling for now and sell it for 25% less than that,the best deal you can get from a store is 23.5% off.get a locksmith to open the organ ,its childs play. the leslie is worth 1400 dollars. find out what model the organ is by taking off the back(twoLARGE BRASS SCREWS) AND READING THE PLATE. the organ is worth 1800 absolute minimum if it is an older model and its not the age that determins value(these things are indestructable) but features. this stuff is in prime shape.dont let anybody steal this from under you.secondly dont sell expand your church.put on a concert with this stuff and get the money that way or get 10$ donation from every man woman and child next sunday

Whoever, years ago, made the decision to buy this organ and speaker for the church, when it comes time to selling it to raise money for the church, could not have done any better.

Don't make the mistake of selling it too cheap to the first guy that walks through the door.

---

________________
Don
'59 A100
'62 Lowrey Festival FL
'62 Leslie 45
BX3 with Pro3T