This reed organ was made by Estey Organ Co. in Brattleboro, Vermont, around 1870-1880. It is a parlor style single manual pump organ, with a compass of FF-f4, and two pedals. The organ's stop list is as follows:
SubBass Melodia Dolce Viola I Forte Vox Humana II Forte Vox Jubilante Dulciana Diapason Octave Coupler
There are 2 knee levers (Knee Swell, Grand Organ).
This pipe organ was made by an undetermined maker in New England, United States, around 1825-1835. It has a single keyboard, C - f3. The organ’s disposition is as follows:
8' Open Diapason? (from a) 8' Stopped Diapason 4' Principal (or flute) Blocked slide
This reed organ was made by Walker in Norwich, Connecticut, around 1837-1843. It is a small reed organ made of rosewood on a trestle stand. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C – c3. Bellows suspended below the instrument are activated with a foot pedal. There is an engraved metal plate above the keyboard:
This pipe organ was made by Henry Erben in New York, New York, in 1848. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C - c4, and a pedalboard (no separate pedal pipes), with a compass of C – c. The organ’s stop list is as follows:
8' Dulciana (from c) 8' Flute (from c) 4' Principal 8' Diapason bass (C - B)
This pipe organ was made by an undetermined maker, possibly in Toggenburg, Switzerland, around 1775-1799. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C - c3. The organ’s stop list is as follows:
This pipe organ was made by an undetermined maker in the United States, around 1845-1855. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C - g3, and 12 pedal keys. The organ's disposition is as follows:
8' Melodia 8' Viol de Amore 8' Stopped Diapason bass
4' Flute (open) 4' Principal, divided treble and bass Harmonia Reed (free reed, no pipes) Pedal Bass (coupler) Guillotine Swell
Location
Currently not on view (organ base)
Currently not on view
Currently not on view (bellows; display pipe section; fragment, bellows; front panel; organ top; organ top fragment; screw; side panel; slatted panel)
This pipe organ was made by William Davis in New York, New York, in 1863. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of C - g3. The organ’s disposition is as follows:
8' Open Diapason 4' Principal 8' Stopped Diapason (chimney flute) 4' Flute (from f) 8' Dulciana (from f)
This organ was in use in the Christ Episcopal Church in Jordan, New York for over a hundred years. It was purchased by the donor in the 1960s, and donated to the Smithsonian in 1971.
Location
Currently not on view
Currently not on view (blower, stop actions, swell pedal)
This voicing table organ was made by David Moore in North Pomfret, Vermont, in 1978-1979. The organ wind chest dates from an 1856 Stevens and Jewett instrument, reconstructed as demonstration action model.
A voicing table is a windchest with a visible wind supply (foot operated in this case). These voicing tables were standard equipment in all nineteenth century American organ builders' shops. This one was made (windchest and keyboard) in Boston about 1856 in the shop of George Stevens and James Jewett, significant builders of their time.
This pipe organ was made by John Snetzler in London, England, in 1761. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of GG/c - e3 (no GG3, AA#, BB). The organ’s stop list is as follows:
8' Open Diapason (treble only) 8' Stopped Diapason 4' Flute 2' Fifteenth II Sesquialtera (bass) II Cornet (treble) Swell shutter in lid of case Machine stop
Dr. Samuel Bard of Philadelphia and New York, a physician who attended George Washington, is believed to have imported this organ from England shortly after its manufacture. Signed and dated :john Snetzler fecit London 1761” inside the pallet box under the keyboard, this instrument is typical of the many chamber organs many by Snetzler.
In addition to its use in Dr. Bard's homes, this organ was moved to the Episcopal Church of Hyde Park, New York, and several other locations. While on loan to the Collection of the New York State Historical Society in Cooperstown, N.Y., it was purchased by the Smithsonian from heirs of its original owner, restored in the shop of C. B. Fisk, and accessioned in the collections in 1969.
This reed organ was made by Mason & Hamlin Organ Co. in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1880-1885. It is a portable reed organ, model 109 with a single manual, with a compass of F - g2, and two pedals. This instrument was sold by Mason & Hamlin as a "Baby" organ.
This reed organ was made by Estey Organ Company, in Brattleboro, Vermont, around 1935-1940. It is a portable or “Chaplain’s” reed organ, serial number 491204. There is a printed label inside the lid:
ESTEY ORGAN COMPANY Manufacturers BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, U.S.A. No. 491204 1782
This organ was made by Walter Holtkamp in Cleveland, Ohio, around 1934-1936. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of G - g3. The organ's disposition is as follows:
8' Copula 4' Principal III Mixture
This little chamber organ of three stops may be the first mechanical-action organ to be made in an American shop in modern times, although it is not known for sure that Holtkamp made the windchest. It is thought to be the first of approximately seven such instruments made in 1935 and 1936, and apparently remained in the Holtkamp shop until its acquisition by the Smithsonian, in 1981.
This reed organ was made by Abraham Prescott in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1835-1837. It is a small melodeon, with a rosewood case, single keyboard, with a compass of C-c3, and a pedal activated bellows suspended below the instrument. The instrument is marked:
A. PRESCOTT MANUFACTURER. CONCORD N.H.
Abraham Prescott (1789-1858) was an early American maker of melodeons, who concentrated on them after setting up his shop in Concord, New Hampshire in 1831. "Melodeon" is defined as a reed organ with a simple stand, rather than a cabinet-style enclosure, which descends to the floor. Reed organs gradually went out of fashion, as upright pianos became affordable and easily available around 1910.
This reed organ was made by Mason & Hamlin Organ Co. in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1876. It is a cabinet style pump organ, serial #34435, with a single keyboard, with a compass of FF - f3, a knee stop, and two pedals. The organ’s stop list is as follows:
This organ was made by Hammond Clock Co. in Chicago, Illinois, in 1934. It is an electric organ, Model A, serial #1, made of walnut. This organ has two manuals, swell and great, with 61 keys each. 25-note, radiating, detachable pedal keyboards. 9 preset keys and 2 sets of adjustable harmonic drawbars for each manual, 2 adjustable drawbars (16’ and 8’) for pedals. 1 expression pedal controlling swell, great, and pedals. One tone generator, one tremulant affecting both manual and pedals equally. Accessioned with model A-20 tone cabinet and bench.
The original owner of this first Hammond was the Paseo Methodist Church in Kansas City, which bought it in 1935. Shortly after Laurens Hammond had his electric organ patented in 1934, Hammond salesmen took the instrument around the country for demonstrations and to stimulate sales. One of the first stops was Kansas City, Missouri.
J. W. Jenkins, president, Jenkins Music Company, Kansas City, Missouri indicated in museum correspondence, “we were the first franchised Hammond Organ dealer in the world, that is why we came in possession of this organ. We sold the organ to the Paseo Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936, after using it for a number of months as a demonstrator. Since this was the first and only one we had, we couldn't sell it until the factory was able to supply us with more organs. In 1947 the Paseo Methodist Church moved and built a new and bigger church. At that time, they traded in Hammond Organ Serial #1 for a new and bigger church model. Ever since then this organ has remained in our possession and has literally traveled coast to coast on exhibition and promotions for other dealer friends of ours.” The organ was donated to the Smithsonian in 1968.
This instrument features U. S. Patent #1956350 dated April 24, 1934, by Laurens Hammond for an electrical musical instrument.
Location
Currently not on view
Currently not on view (bench; broken lightbulb pieces; cord; felt circle; metal bracket; organ; screw; spring)
This organ was made by Abraham Prescott in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1838-1842. It is a melodeon (lap organ) with a rectangular rosewood and maple case, double bellows, 8 soundholes, ivory buttons (29 naturals. 20 accidentals), with a compass of C - c3. This instrument is also known as an “elbow” organ, “rocking” melodeon, or lap organ. The swell knob plate is inscribed:
A. PRESCOTT MANUFACTURER CONCORD N.H.
Abraham Prescott (1789-1858) was one of the most prolific of the bass viol makers. A self-taught instrument maker, he began his craft in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in 1809 and moved his business to Concord in 1831, where he continued to make violoncellos, bass viols, and double basses (and later reed organs and pianos) until about 1850. Prescott instruments are often fitted with machine-head tuning gears instead of more usual pegs.
This organ was made by Abraham Prescott in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1845-1855. It is a melodeon (lap organ) with a rectangular rosewood case, double bellows, single keyboard, with a compass of C - c3. This instrument is also known as an “elbow” organ, “rocking” melodeon, or lap organ. The swell knob plate is inscribed:
A. PRESCOTT MANUFACTURER CONCORD N.H.
Abraham Prescott (1789-1858) was one of the most prolific of the bass viol makers. A self-taught instrument maker, he began his craft in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in 1809 and moved his business to Concord in 1831, where he continued to make violoncellos, bass viols, and double basses (and later reed organs and pianos) until about 1850. Prescott instruments are often fitted with machine-head tuning gears instead of more usual pegs.
This organ was made by Daniel B. Bartlett in Concord, New Hampshire, around 1843-1847. It is a melodeon (lap organ) with a rectangular rosewood and maple case, double bellows, ivory buttons (24 naturals, 17 accidentals), with a compass of F - a2. This instrument is also known as an “elbow” organ, “rocking” melodeon, or lap organ. The swell knob is marked:
