However, the expense of renovating the deteriorated mechanism and tonal changes, can quickly add up to a generous amount. The decision to renovating or rebuilding should be made only after securing the advice of a competent disinterested individual. Other factors to consider are reliability and longevity. These organs are extremely long-lived and reliable. For small parishes with very limited funds he gives the option of a refurbished second-hand reed organ.
Old organs become available regularly because of church closings and mergers.
The main source for them is a non-profit, the Organ Clearing House, Harrisville, New Hampshire. These organs usually need mechanical refurbishing, tonal alteration, and perhaps visual reconstruction. The resulting instrument will be the equal of a new organ costing half to twice as much, and will serve for a century or more. The ultimate cost of an organ recycling project depends on factors such as availability of an organ that will fit the shape and size of the space set aside for it in its new home, the amount of tonal revision necessary or desired, and the amount of volunteer help willing and able to assist in nontechnical tasks.