Hohner Organa Info

Subject: Hohner Organa Info
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 06:04 AM

Acquired a beautiful condition 240V Hohner Organa.

It appears to be Bakelite or perhaps Perspex high gloss black - with a wooden ply base. Single keyboard, with a sliding bar on the front that would appear to be some sort of Register Switch like an Accordion. However it appears to make no tonal difference. Not sure how many reeds, but it definitely needs some tuning. Also, one the fan had started, a definite musty odour appeared, but there is no visible external damage, even the case is in fair condition.

It says on the label Typ 9807 - Made in Germany - D8GN 1733159, and has a stamped number that is somewhat missing, but appears to be 33055.

Is it between the Wars, or, as some have suggested, about 1965?

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 11:46 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo5R4j9ADL8

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Dec 09 - 06:03 PM

Well thanks, but the PC here isn't playing sound atm for some reason, so I can't tell what tonal effect the slide bar has.

That one was white, but other wise apparently identical. My case seems slightly different. I have included metal folded legs that clip into the case to allow it to be elevated about 2 feet higher as well.

The other links there had lots of interesting info - especially the Clavinet, one of which I would LOVE to have, if anyone has one that they don't want or find in the dump in reasonable condition! :-0

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Dec 09 - 07:47 PM

OK - it looks like it's only some of those clips that I get no sound for.... can anyone tell me what that front sliding bar seems to do to the sound please? I can hear no difference on mine :-)

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: GUEST,mitchell
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 12:15 PM

Hi, I just acquired a similar instrument. Black, plastic..I don't think bakelite, brass tubular legs, made in Germany, typ 9807 DBGM 1733159, stamped 21985. I just picked it up for possible resale..kind of a unique item. Any idea of value? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: treewind
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 05:06 PM

Sounds a bit like a harmonium.
The slider makes the toner brighter/darker (it may be opening a vent that lets the higher frequency sound out)

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: GUEST,rockstardave
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 02:11 AM

Hello all. Here is some info on Hohner portable reed organs, usually called an Organa or Organetta:

The slider is a volume adjustment of sorts. Really, it adjusts the fan speed, causing more or less air to pass over the reeds. This appears to be more effective on some models than others.

These are a "unique item" of sorts, but there is no demand for them. Because the electric fan is so noisy, recording or amplifying these things is a nightmare (not to mention the tiny, sticky keys), making them pretty much useless to serious musicians. I am a serious musician and a collector. I love my Organa, but I only paid $30 for it, and probably wouldn't pay much more.

I have not tried to tune mine, as it is still in tune for the most part. I imagine the process would be very similar to tuning a melodica (gently filing bits off the reeds), a process for which the internet has lots of advice. Beware! Trying to tune instruments for which there are no replacement parts or technicians is risky business. If you break a reed trying to file it, then the whole thing is pretty much sunk. Better to have a slightly out of tune key than a dead key.

These are very reliable instruments, just not very playable or useful. I play mine a few times a week, but just for fun. I use the digital stuff and a Hammond tonewheel organ for serious keyboard sounds.

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: GUEST,Future
Date: 16 Mar 13 - 09:51 AM

Hi 2010 friends,

This is Sam from the future. I just wanted to let you know I bought the same thing and I love it. I'll use it as decorative item and for acoustic jamming purposes. Cya!

Sam

Subject: RE: Hohner Organa Info
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 Jun 16 - 11:24 AM

I'm glad the spam bot dug up this thread..[no doubt that post will be deleted]

Back in the early 70s, the cheap plastic Woolworths equivalent was very popular, and the first keyboard our family acquired one Xmas...

About 15 years ago I collected 3 variants in working condition.

Now I've finally got some decent mics, I still plan to record all the individual keys and chord buttons, and fan noise,
to make up my own custom sample sets...

Playable on software samplers, and my old top of the range Yamaha hardware sampler...