Detroit Fox Theater Tour Second visit pt2 Blower Startup

[acnfanmanin]

Looks like it's running on reverse.

[acnfanmanin]

What's an organ blower?

[douro20]

Are these axial blowers?

[Marshall7302]

@douro20 im not sure what you mean by axial blowers, but they are the standard theater organ variety spencers. The only difference is their HUGE due to the 8 stages and they dont have a slow start circuit ... they start and go and thats it... crazy fast.

[Trompetteenchamade]

@douro20 No, not axial like a modern jet engine, but centrifugal. In a Spencer blower, each impeller has straight radial blades. Air flows from the center outward, then turns 180 degrees into a stator whose curved vanes direct the air into the center of the next impeller.

These blowers were built before safety devices were attached for every contingency. They did usually include an intake snorkel with spring-loaded doors that pulled open with the airflow, but this was for noise control.

[JoePeterzak]

Most organ blowers I have seen have been open like that at the intake. Never heard of anyone getting hurt or a finger or hand sucked in. However, a rat got into the intake once at the oriental theatre in Chicago. When the blower started up with the rat inside, the blower ground up the rat and in the process, caused those blades of the blower to rip apart. All of the blowers blades on all three fans where sheered off and turned into shrapnal which shot up into the organ's windline.

[Larsky1010]

@JoePeterzak When was this? Is the blower still D.C.? I last saw it start back in the late '60s, and it was a near-instant start to full run speed!

[JoePeterzak]

@Larsky1010 The Chicago Oriental Theatre DC blower blew apart in 1977 - at the start of a Tom Kotner concert.

[kiwiplant]

That is frightening. Isn't there normally a metal guard tube or filter on that end ?

[Marshall7302]

@kiwiplant most old school blowers didnt have or really need intake filters. In my life i have only seen 2 spencer blowers with filters installed one is a 2 manual 8 rank Wurlitzer installed in a church and the blower is actually in the bell tower, so its exposed to the elements. And the Senate Theater organ from the Fisher, i believe was installed after removal from the Fisher. (not 100% sure on that)