After reading the post from Bruce Clark in regard to the Duo-Art pipe
organ installed at the George Eastman estate (011128 MMD), I decided to
find out more about the organ.  My standard reference book on Aeolian
pipe organs is "The Aeolian Pipe Organ and Its Music", by Rollin Smith,
published by the Organ Historical Society of Richmond, VA.  Several
pages of the book are devoted to the Eastman installation.

Actually, there are two organs involved.  Eastman first purchased
Aeolian Opus 947 in 1904.  That organ predates the Duo-Art era.  The
organ was 3 manuals and 66 ranks.  In addition to the normal console,
the instrument could be played by an "Aeolienne", a device with no
keyboards but equipped with a roll player and controls for organ stops
and swell shutters.

In 1917 Eastman bought another Aeolian organ, Opus 1416.  That one was
equipped as a Duo-Art player and had 63 ranks.  Tonal improvements were
made to the original organ at that time.  The two organs were under
the control of the new 4-manual console.  Thus Eastman owned the
largest residence organ in the world, sporting a total rank count
of 129 ranks.

It is no wonder that $700,000 was estimated to fully restore this
monster organ.  Those of us who dabble in these things are well aware
of the huge amount of time required to restore and maintain these
instruments.

Several medium sized Aeolian instruments have recently become
available.  If any list member is interested in becoming an Aeolian
owner, they should contact me for further information.   Additionally,
I am always interested in acquiring Duo-Art organ Rolls, and I have
some to trade.

Bob Taylor