Expert: Eileen Cronk - 5/21/2005

Question
I have acquired an old pump organ,  the finish on it looks like it was brushed on, maybe it's not the original finish?  Anyway,  it's appearacne and color look so bad, would I be destroying it's value by stripping it and refinishing it?  As it appears now, you wouldn't want to dispaly it in your home, but it's not chipped or gouged.  It was made between 1890 and 1900.

Answer
Hi Dennis
Nice to hear from you.
You are finding yourself in the same quandry as many others...should I or shouldn't I.
And actually Dennis if you read your own words, you will see there is no quandry at all...your words were "it looks so bad".
So yes refinish the organ. It will become the focal point of your room and be a wonderful conversation piece.
You will not destroy its value in any way.
I have had the pleasure of restoring 3 of these old beauties in my life, and I will admit the first was a bit intimidating. After I was finished I was surprised at how easy it actually was. You will find that many of the parts will come right off and can be stripped on saw horses.
The keyboard cover will come off, the top, the bottom front panel, the top front panel..they all come off, but you must look carefully to see how.
A lot of the parts only involve turning pegs to remove.
Dennis this will be a very worthwhile undertaking. You can do it I bet.
Good luck, and if you run into problems do not hesitate to ask for help.
Kindest Regards
Eileen