Wonderful DIY pipe organ

In the 1960s, Leon Berry built an insanely incredible pipe organ. He dubbed it the "Beast In The Basement." Berry outfitted the Beast with a slew of electromechanical special effect sounds too, from birds chirping to a Chinese gong. John Brownlee has more on this amazing instrument over at Boing Boing Gadgets. Link to BBG, Link to YouTube clip (via MAKE:)

[#1 posted by Chinese Jet Pilot , April 16, 2008 11:19 AM]

It's kind of crummy that this "YouTube video" is actually a link to BBGadgets. I know you need the traffic, but why make me click twice? At least take the YouTube logo off the promo graphic.

[#2 posted by David Pescovitz , April 16, 2008 11:44 AM]

@ChineseJetPilot (#1), I usually link to the BBG post rather than the external item because I think Joel, John, and Rob provide killer context, humor, analysis, etc. that readers will dig. That said, I agree in this case that it makes sense to also include a direct link to the YouTube video. So I added one. Thanks!

[#3 posted by Takuan , April 16, 2008 12:15 PM]

Oh Mein Gott: Bergholdt Stuttley Johnson???!!

[#4 posted by Moon , April 16, 2008 1:13 PM]

What's up with that guy in the picture? He looks like he either: a) just farted or b) just blew your ears off with a B flat!

:)

[#5 posted by shmengie , April 16, 2008 1:30 PM]

that guy leon is awesome. he's a hacker in the true sense of the word, as well as quite a character!

[#6 posted by pahool , April 16, 2008 4:20 PM]

Do want!

I love old film transfers with voiceover narration.

Now I have to go to archive.org and watch Prelinger videos for the rest of the day while I pretend to work. Thanks...

[#7 posted by Geek_engineer , April 16, 2008 6:33 PM]

Back in the dark ages I was a member of the Cedar Rapids Area Theater Organ Society (CRATOS). One of our bus trip outings took us to the Chicago area, and I think Leon was one of the places we visited. You can't imagine how loud this was in a tiny basement even though Leon had reduced the air pressure and revoiced the pipes.

One of the things we managed to do is restore the organ here: http://www.uscellularcenter.com/theatre_info/index.asp

[#8 posted by technogeek , April 16, 2008 7:07 PM]

Proper theater organ. It's a pity he didn't have a proper movie theater to go with it.

(I'm still waiting for the Constellation Center to break ground. One of their performance spaces is intended to be able to function as a full-scale silent-movie palace, with space for organ and orchestra, when it isn't being used for other things.)

[#9 posted by Moon , April 16, 2008 7:20 PM]

Shmengie, he looks like a real nut!

:)

[#10 posted by WeightedCompanionCube , April 17, 2008 1:38 PM]

Moon - both.

[#11 posted by WeightedCompanionCube , April 17, 2008 1:42 PM]

It sure looks like a Johnson! Can you play "Prelude in G for Whoopee Cushion and Squashed Rabbits" on it?

[#12 posted by Takuan , April 17, 2008 1:52 PM]

only if you are a very senior Librarian