From mrresp1@optonline.net Tue Nov 06 13:34:22 2007
Subject:Re: OT: Don Leslie's Finest Achievement?

yes, that was right after the somewhat dismal success with an egg beater &
the paper towel roll....

----- Original Message -----
>
> i read somewhere that Don first experimented with a fan through a wall. Is
> there any truth to this?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve
> To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 4:42 am
> Subject: Re: [CWSG] OT: Don Leslie's Finest Achievement?
>
> I read somewhere (I can't remember where) that at one point Don Leslie
>
> considered the models 102 and 103 developed for the Gulbransen Rialto K
>
> model organ to be his finest achievement. Mr. Leslie was a huge fan of
>
> pipe theatre organs, and a lot of his efforts were targeted toward
>
> emulating all of the various sounds and tones they could produce. The
>
> Rialto K was a solid-state emulation of a theatre organ, and mine even
>
> had a piano module - not very good by today's standards, but the sound
>
> was more accurate than most of the electric pianos being built in the
>
> 60's when the Rialto K was developed.
>
> The Leslie 102 and 103 were equipped as follows:
>
> Leslie 102:
>
> ===========
>
> Speakers:
>
> 1 - Rotosonic Drum (under the woofer), single speed, single speaker
>
> 1 - 15" woofer
>
> 3 - 6 x 9" stationary speakers (in top section)
>
> Amp: 4 channel x 16 watts, plus an "Isomonic" unit
>
> Leslie 103:
>
> ===========
>
> Speakers:
>
> 1 - Rotosonic Drum, fast/slow speeds, 2 - 6 x 9 speakers
>
> 1 - Rotosonic Drum, single speed, 2 - 6 x 9 speakers
>
> 2 - Stationary 6 x 9 speakers
>
> Amp: 4 channel x 16 watts, plus an "Isomonic" unit
>
> I was never clear on what the isomonic units do, but each one has a
>
> variable capacitor that is driven by the same belt that drives the
>
> single-speed rotosonic drum in the cabinet.
>
> I also remember reading that Leslie's first attempts at a rotating
>
> speaker element were more like the rotosonic drum he developed later,
>
> but after struggling with the electrical issues, he went to stationary
>
> speaker drivers with rotating horns and drums - the design we love so
>
> much. Later he solved the problem of getting the amplified signal to a
>
> rotating speaker by inventing the MercoTac device, which uses mercury to
>
> conduct the current to the speaker.
>
> --The Other Steve
>
> Bruce Wahler wrote:
>
>> One last thing that I would like to address however, are several
>> misstatements and misconceptions about Don Leslie and his speakers.
>
>>
>
>> 2. Much of the "continued development" of the Leslie Speaker was an
>> attempt to reach Leslie's original goal (theatre organ pipe tremulant).
>> He actually thought the rotating drums with 6" x 9" speakers and Mercotac
>> contacts were closer to his ideal sound. If one were able to go back 15
>> years and ask Don Leslie what his favorite Leslie Speaker model was, my
>> money would be on one of those 'Rotosonic' models.
>
>>
>
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