Piano World Home Page Forums Other Keyboard Instruments Organs - Electronic (B3 etc.), Pipe, Theatre, & Reed Just came across this Organ

Hi All,

This Organ has been in the family for at least 60 years it is currently in the possession of a cousin. Any idea who made it, when, and where the serial number might be found. It is not currently in working order.



ewaite

Looks like a harmonium (accordion-like free reeds, no pipes?). What selectable stops does it have ?

Well The good ol american reed organ you have there.

There were as many reed organ makers as there were piano companies in the late 1800s early 1900s. So looking at the cabinet cant tell us anything!

Open up the key desk and look for a brand somewhere. Usually written in a fancy font. I cant think of anywhere else it might be.

They pop up on craigslist for free a lot. They are hard to get rid of because they are very large, heavy, and most people dont know how to fix them anymore, and a lot of people find them kind of outdated.

I like them though. A neat sound.

Hi ROMagister,

I really know nothing about it except what I've been told, I hope to get to look it over real good and take some more pictures next visit to PA. Talking to my father I have found that he thinks his great grandmother may have purchased it new. What should I look for when I check it out? Is it worth trying to get from my cousin, who got it from her mom (my Aunt), who got it from my grandmother, etc.

Here is another picture that my cousin found on the internet while doing research on the organ.


thanks,
ewaite

I guess you've visited the Reed Organ Society

Well what you will want to do is first make sure its playing!

Check the pedals and see if you hear or notice any air leaking. If it is, it -is- fixable but needs to be done to play properly.

Now pull each stop individually and check each and every note. Make sure the sound is even and doesnt have any severe buzzing and such. Now pull out all the stops and play it, and try and notice if the organ gets winded, aka, drops pressure really fast when pedaling at a normal rate. That means there is a leak in the organ. And if by fixing the pedals doesnt help that, it may cost a LOT to fix.

Not many people around anymore to fix/service these.

It has such a gorgeous cabinet.. I've seen about 10 on the used market here in Kansas City. They usually ask for 5 - 800 dollars for them but they don't seem to sell.

If I had a non-working one, I'd attempt to take out the workings and turn it into a desk or buffet.

my friend refinished hers and it is absolutely gorgeous but it just sits unplayed in her sitting room exuding beauty.

For anyone going to the Lake District, UK, there is a small organ/harmonium at the very tiny Methodist Chapel, Hawkeshead.

Delightful, and they let visitors play it.

I vote gun cabinet. Nobody would suspect.

At the Minneapolis AGO convention in '08, John Weaver ( retired from Julliard and Curtis) and his wife Marianne gave a demonstration on an Estey reed organ. It had been rebuilt but it was amazing. He played Mendelssohn and Guilmant. They did some organ and flute duets. He was showing how you could phrase and shade with the bellows. I had never thought much about these but it was an "epiphany" !!