The John Smith Busker Organ

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**Special Offers on John Smith Music Rolls** This section of the site is devoted to the John Smith 'build-it-yourself' busker organ.  It includes photographs and articles on the construction, and hints and tips from fellow builders.  There is also a photo gallery, with around 50 photographs of completed organs.  You can get LOTS of ideas from this section.

26-note John Smith organ - built by Bernard Pilgrim Articles about the John Smith Organ, hundreds of building tips See the John Smith Photo Gallery 'Topsy' John Smith's new MIDI Organ

About the John Smith Busker Organ (by Melvyn Wright)
In 1996 John Smith of Flitwick (UK) advertised a set of revolutionary organ plans in the magazine of the British Organ Grinders Association. The plans detailed the construction of a small 20-note busker organ which could be built for less than £100. Unlike the few complicated amateur designs that were already available, this organ was specifically designed so that anybody with the minimum of skill could build it, using readily-available materials from the local DIY superstore! And what is more - the plans were in English!

John went out of his way to simplify the design as much as possible, abandoning many traditional organ builders' techniques, and incorporating new innovative methods of construction. The finished organ was not meant to be as durable or refined as a professional organ, but it would provide the enthusiast with something to do for a few weeks, and he would end up with a working organ for a fraction of the price of a commercially-built instrument.

Since then, hundreds of John Smith organs have been constructed by enthusiasts all over the world. The plans have also been bought by model engineers, woodworkers, and other craftsmen who would not normally have an interest in busker organs; so interest in the mechanical organ has spread as a result. The published plans did not provide details of a case, which has resulted in the appearance of organs of all shapes and sizes. Many builders have used 'proper' organ building materials and ended up with an organ which is on a par with a professional model.

One compromise which had to be made with the design was the use of non-standard music rolls. To simplify the design as much as possible, John decided not to include pneumatic valves in the organ. This means that the holes in the music roll have to be bigger than normal, in order to supply enough air to the pipes. Unfortunately, this meant that the builder of the organ also had to build himself a punching machine in order to punch out the music, as no commercial music was available punched with the larger holes. I used to supply music for this organ in the form of pre-printed masters ready to punch out, but I now supply ready-cut music for both 20-note and 26-note John Smith organs.

I have supplied thousands of metres of music for John Smith organs all over the world. If you hear a John Smith organ playing something that sounds too good to be true, then it's probably playing my music!  I also supply blank spools, roll boxes, and other musical sundries for these organs. Click Here to request my music catalogue for the John Smith organ(s).

If you would like to obtain the plans for the organ, email John Smith Here or Here, or you can write to him at the following address:
John Smith, 55 Willow Way, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1LN, England.
He can also be reached by telephone or fax, on: +44 (0) 1525 712496

If you would rather obtain a complete kit of parts to build a similar organ, click here

John Smith's new 26-note organ

Books about organ building

Articles about the John Smith Organ, hundreds of building tips
See the John Smith Photo Gallery

This web site is copyright (C) Melvyn Wright and individual contributors