Among the organ portatives made and repaired by our workshop, this barrel organ from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries has its honor place. It was made in the well-known company owned by Augustin Riemer in Chrastava, whose name Gebrüder Riemer Kratzau i/b Marktplatz is also signed on the front side of the instrument. Since the its foundation in 1845, the Riemer company was engaged in the manufacture of organs, barrel organs and hurdy-gurdys and supplied its products throughout Europe.
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The barrel organ came in our workshop in a rather poor condition. Its pipe register, especially the one located on the outside under the bottom of the instrument, has suffered the most over the years. The crimped (bent) pipes were mechanically damaged, with partially broken or loosened pipe boards. The leather of the plugs was also completely swollen on this register. The violin register was also not in order. One of the pipes had a completely ruined soundboard, which had been attacked by a worm. During the manipulation, the plate completely crumbled to dust in the hand. Surprisingly and fortunately, the rest of the pipes were not affected by the worm, so the original wood could only be restored.
First of all, the chipped pieces of the pipe boards had to be glued back together and those that were missing completely had to be replaced with new ones. The creped pipes were completely dismounted at the joint, cleaned, glued and then secured with leather strips for a perfect tightness. Of course, the swollen leather of the plugs was replaced with new leather. In the case of the violin register, it was necessary to completely replace the board of one pipe, which had been destroyed by a worm. For the replacement, we chose a board made of the same material that was found on the other pipes. This plate was practically the only replacement of the original material. Everything else we kept and only renewed or repaired. It was definitely a good choice. The instrument has kept its original ancient appearance and unique sound characteristics.
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