Reed Organ Society, Inc. - An International Organization

This is a very unusual and rare Carhart Needham & Company reed organ. Built in 1865, it has 24 stops and two C-compass manuals with a pedalboard. This organ was used at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Turin, NY. The church was closed in 2012 and the organ was removed in 2017 when the building was sold. You can see the rest of the information and other pictures for this instrument on the Reed Organ Society's website: https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php/rosdb/vieworgan?name=6284®No=&nm=1&ctry=1&ser=1&info=1&mklc=1&modl=1&ymStrt=&ymEnd=&stopStrt=&stopEnd=&cStyl=0&showOrg=1&showGel=1&advanced=&type=Search&ID=12724&itemID=0

1890s Vocalion by Mason & Risch, Worcester MA, USA.

This model contains the gothic canopy top and engraved ivory stop faces with the pitch currently at A440. This instrument works by air pressure, just like a pipe organ, and the action feels like a tracker organ. The bellows were releathered in 1990s, the reeds and felt worked on in 2013, organ is in near original condition. The case is identical to that illustrated as Style 14 in the 1888 New York Church organ catalog.

Stop list:
Flute D'Amour 4' (sw)
Oboe 8' (sw)
Gamba 8' (sw)
Bourdon Bass 16' (sw)
Bourdon Treble 16' (sw)
Double Open Diapason 16' (ped)
Diapason Dolce 16' (ped)
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
Open Diapason 8' (grt)
Dulciana 8' (grt)
Harmonic Flute 4' (grt)
Stopped Diapason 8' (grt)
Swell to Great
Vox Humana
Bellows Signal

We are pleased to announce that the first 2023 issue of the Reed Organ Society Quarterly has just been mailed out from the printer; regular members should begin looking for it in their mailboxes soon! Of course, all members, regular and digital-only, may already view it in PDF format via the ROS website Membership Portal (https://www.reedsoc.org). Just a reminder that new articles for the next and succeeding issues are most welcome and may be submitted by members and non-members alike via email to [email protected]!

Available:
ROS Quarterly, 2022 No. 4.
Contents:
An interesting article about treadles in reed organs, and two detailed reports of the ROS Gathering in October 2022.

Scholar and concert musician Artis Wodehouse provides a great demonstration of an 1871 Estey Cottage Style 21 which was expertly restored by Casey Pratt. Smaller reed organs are often amazing musical instruments and more fun to play than their larger cousins. These compact instruments, especially earlier examples like this one, are beautifully voiced and fit in small spaces. We eagerly await future posts from Artis making fine music with this instrument.

1871 Estey foot pump Cottage organ demo by Artis Wodehouse Artis Wodehouse demonstrates her newly-acquired 1871 foot-pump Cottage organ by Estey. She highlights its compact design, while stressing the surprising num...

Only one week until the Reed Organ Society holds its 2022 Gathering in St. Clair County, Illinois. Details and schedule are listed here:

The Reed Organ Society :: 2022 ROS Gathering Registration is now open! The event fees will be $150 for single person, or $290 per couple. The deadline for registration is September 16, 2022.

Here are examples of instruments from the Williams Organ & Piano Company, Centerville, Iowa. J. W. Williams opened a tinsmith partnership in 1854 in Centerville, Iowa. Later, he bought out his business partner in 1856 and added hardware, implements, and groceries to his burgeoning business. Williams became one of the largest Story & Clark agents in 1885. J.W. & H.B. Williams formed the Williams Organ Co. in 1887 and sold organs under the name: "Epworth Cottage Organ / Williams."

To learn more about the Williams-Epworth company and its founders, see the wonderful article by Ron Manzow in the Reed Organ Society Quarterly, VOL. XLII, NO. 2, 2022.

Become a member of the Reed Organ Society and get your subscription to the Reed Organ Society Quarterly, where we feature articles about reed organ restoration, builders, historical articles, and all things musical -- see details here: https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php?cID=192

The Reed Organ Society also publishes "The Free Reed," a free monthly, digital newsletter delivered by e-mail. The Free Reed offers full-color photos, up-to-date news information, and free classifieds. To sign up, contact us and we'll provide the link to start your Free Reed newsletter subscription.