I have a large roll top desk from about 1890 made by the Wick Organ Company. Thats right....an organ company. When you are done with your paperwork you simply push the writing desk inward and a compleyely hidden keyboard appears as the keyslip descends into a compartment to reveal the keyfronts and stop knobs. While this is taking place the pump pedals rotate into position on the floor. Its a reed organ, or pump organ as some call them, with eleven stops. Sounds and plays beautifully.
The mechanical connection between the heavy writing desk and the other moving parts is so well balanced that it requires little effort to move between desk, and musical instrument, or visa versa. When in musical configuration, an intricately designed, and hidden, music desk can be pulled out into position.
Its a very heavy piece of oak furniture, with cubby holes, and ledger compartments. In the knee well, where the pump pedals appear, two knee levers fold out. One controls loudness, and the other is basically a quick way to open all the stops for the fullest sound.
The organ is so well hidden that someone could buy it as a rolltop desk and possibly never realize what is hidden inside. There are only two or three other of these in the world that Im aware of. There is a salesmans demonstration model around somewhere. Its a smallscale model that sold at auction awhile back.
Wow, that sounds spectacular. Could you post pics of the desk and organ configurations?
That sounds really cool.