About four years ago, Linette noticed an old organ out on the curb in front of a neighbor’s house, and she asked my friends and I to go out in the rain and get it. Now, she tells me that she wants it out of the house, as though it was my idea to bring it inside in the first place… Anyway, I’m planning to tear it apart and dump its pieces around town, unless someone comes forward to offer it a good home. (I’ve only plugged it in once, but it seemed to be working at the time.) And, yes, it’s free. You’d just need to have a truck and about four guys to move it. (It’s really heavy.) Alternate disposal methods will also be entertained, so, if you have good ideas, please send them in. (I think it would like nice at the bottom of the Huron.)
16 Comments
If it has tubes (some organs have hundreds in the back), you may want to keep them and sell them to a longhair later.
Our practice space in Detroit is littered with organs for some reason. It looks like an inverted church parking lot… or a hospital dumpster (to keep the metaphor going).
Damn you and your miniaturizing sampling technology, Casio!
Set it up on your front lawn and run power out to it so that people can play it as they stroll by. You could set up a webcam too. You might get some pretty cool stuff.
“…littered with organs…” heh. I like Ted’s idea. Some of those junkies and hos might be musical geniuses.
You could record it and release it as a Monkey Power Trio spin-off called “Random Monkey Music”. Or would it be “More Random…”? Whatever.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YpsilantiFreecycle/
Yes, Freecycle. Why didn’t I think of that?
Here’s another idea. What if I hollow it out, and hide inside it before putting it up on Freecycle? Then, when it gets moved into someone’s home, I could pop out and take all of there gold and jewels!
I knew a group of guys who did something like that. The only difference was that it was a Hammond B-3 organ, so it was considerably larger than yours, and could fit four people. They had hoped to do something similar to what you describe, but the organ ended up being donated to the local police station. You can imagine the hilarity that ensued.
I’m pretty sure that’s a true story, but it could also be the plot to a Martin Lawrence movie.
I think we must know the same guys, BrianR. Either that, or two groups of guys tried very similar stunts, only to find themselves in police stations.
If I remember correctly, they came out right in the middle of a charity bake sale, and a huge pie fight ensued.
I have to concur with the plug it in and record people’s playing. Maybe set up a pop-up tent so that it doesn’t get wet?
I’m sure that you could enter it into America’s Funniest Home videos and win a lot of money.
O.K. I guess it’s up to me to say it’s pretty darn Freudian that now that you’re married your wife wants you to get rid of your organ…and all these people are telling you to stand out on the lawn and let strangers play with it! This ain’t Catholic School, guys!
Hi-I came across your blog doing an organ search on google. I live in Ann Arbor and would be happy to take this organ off your hands. I’m out of town and won’t be back till Wednesday, but could come get it next weekend if possible. Please email me if you still have the organ. Thanks.
I should have said something earlier, but it looks like the organ may already be spoken for. I’ve received four inquiries so far, and it looks like the first guy who wrote to me might be serious. I told him that I’d plug it in this weekend and let him know what happens. He says he may still take it even if it doesn’t run though… I’ll keep the rest of you posted.
And, you wouldn’t by any chance be from Dunwoody, Georgia, would you, Dunwoody79? I lived there for a while in the early 1970’s… Long gone by ’79.
thanks for the update on the organ-and yes, I happen to be from Dunwoody, GA. I’m actually in Atlanta right now, visiting my family. Small world I guess…..
I went to Vanderlyn. The years were probably ’73 to ’76, or something like that… I ran into a guy once in Hilton Head, South Carolina and it turned out that he was from Dunwoody too. He told me that one of my childhood friends had killed himself… It was a surreal conversation to be having on the beach… My best friend in those days was a fellow named David Spivey. Please don’t tell me that he killed himself.
thanks ubu! iread your comment and squirted coffee out of my nose. that was just too hilarious so early in the morning.
The organ is now gone. I helped them load it into a van and take it away.
It went to local blogger Mark Dilley, who was the first to respond. I pray that he doesn’t use it for evil.