Hammond BA - Restoration in progress

This is an extremely rare Hammond BA - one of a very few models made c1938 that were equipped with an Aeolian roll-playing mechanism (and original Hammond Tone Cabinet and valve amplifier) which has been brought back to life by our amazing volunteer instrument restoration and conservation team. Despite the popularity of Hammond Organs in general, very few of this model were produced, and we estimate this is one of less than 50 working self-playing Hammond organs in existence.
The loud hissing and humming noise is from the temporary electric vacuum pump which provides suction for the player mechanism while the original motor undergoes further restoration.
The Musical Museum team recorded this short snippet as a behind-the-scenes view for our Patrons a couple of years ago; we hope they don't mind us releasing it to the public now that this wonderful instrument is back in action and on display!

[@rustyneuron]

That is absolutely fantastic!

[@ranmadog72000]

The only hammond with the music roll like the one of the aeolian player organ! You midify this organ and you obtain an hardware VB-3!

[@WurliTzer1938]

I got to play that on the first day it got turned on!

[@WurliTzer1938]

I should clarify and say that it was turned on for the first time in a while on August the 25th of this year and I was lucky enough to be around and asked to play it to see how much of it worked!

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Lovely! Very nice and very mellow. Does the roll control any registration changes or do they have to be operated manually?

[@Musical_Museum]

Hello! Thank you for your kind comments. The player mechanism is linked only to contacts underneath the keys (the keys do not move with the self-playing action). The original "Aeolian Hammond" rolls require manual registration - they have stop and expression instructions printed on them for the operator to follow.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

@@Musical_Museum Interesting, thanks.