Paul Gelsleichter asks:
 
>-Has anyone ever repaired cracked hollow tube chimes? Can the cracked be welded
>or brazed with any success  with out destroying the sound of the chime?
 
Yes, it certainly can be done very successfully.  We have a number of repaired
Deagon chimes in the Plummer (Fullerton, CA) Wurlitzer; they look good as new
and sound just fine.  A cracked chime sounds dull and lifeless.   The cracks
generally occur along the welded seam at the top, generally where the mounting
holes were drilled.
 
Our resident expert on this TIG welding operation is Randy Bergum, member of
newly formed Orange County Theatre Organ Society:
 
        Bergum Organ Works
        P.O. Box 6831
        Fullerton, CA  92834
        (714) 879-5920
 
 
Randy also has produced a first class reed curving block for those interested
in reed voicing.  This tool has six graduated cylindrical shaped curves cut
into an anodized aircraft aluminum block.
 
 
Bob