Rebuilding – Internal Flaps

Our Harmonium has seized up hinges for its main internal flaps.  These flaps are usually changed by the push stops but are so oxidized they are stuck, some open some closed.

First I removed the hinges and attempted to clean the brass.  It was really stuck so I used vinegar and salt, then a thorough clean, then an oil based lubricant.

 

 

Here you can see the internal flap with its brass hinge.  You can also see the next issue: the wire that acts as a spring closing the flap was broken.  I bought some wire and bent into shape creating the new spring.

Here’s my now working hinged flap..

There are four flaps like the one shown in the video.  One for the front reeds and one for the back reeds of the treble octave and front and back for the Base octave.  This allows the player to select which reeds to use for each side of the keyboard.. front, back or both.

 

 

 

 

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