MEETING WITH HARALD BECKSTRØM
at my studio in Oslo
05 May 2005

I phoned musician and instrument maker Harald Beckstrøm to ask for his advice and eventual assisstance in restoring the bellows and foot pumps of the pump organ.

Harald is an old friend who, since 1972 has played with several Norwegian bands such as "YM-stammen", "And The Balcony Fell", “Dog Age” and "Støyorkesteret" (noise orchestra - later known as "Fretlessarméén"). He has also exhibited several art works including sound sculptures. From 1993-98 he studied guitar building at the Music Iinstrument Academy in Moss.

His asessment was that:
- the bellows material does not necessarily need replacing (as previously diagnosed), and eventual air leakages can be fixed with glue and/or tape.
- the foot pumps can be fixed without further dismantling of the organ.
- once the footpumps are fixed, then the organ's sound panel should be replaced to find out what is causing the bellows/air flow to function badly.
- some rifts in the wooden board that lies under the sound panel could cause air to escape before reaching the organ reeds which would account for lack of volume when playing the organ. These can be taped over.

Restoration will start next week.

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