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MMD > Archives > August 2006 > 2006.08.27 > 02Prev  Next


Mid-size Pedal Player Organs
By Todd Augsburger

I've been thinking about those mid-sized pedal organs that some refer
to as "'Tweeners" -- of a size in between the smaller organettes and
larger organs.  They seem to have some common features in addition to
size, such as an early date, a hand crank to turn the roll, a single
rank.  I'm aware of:

  Autophone: 32-note paper-as-a-valve strip
  Maxfield Automatic Organ: 31-note loop, pneumatic, with keyboard
  McTammany Automatic Organ No. 1, 2: 23-note paper-as-a-valve
  Mechanical Orguinette Co. Style No. 2, 3: 23-note paper-as-a-valve
  Mechanical Orguinette Co. Celestina Organ: 20-note pneumatic
  Mechanical Orguinette Co. Cabinet Orguinette
  Mechanical Orguinette Co. Musical Cabinet
  Mechanical Orguinette Co. Orchestral Cabinet No. 0, 1: 31-note pneumatic
  Monroe Organ Reed Co. Orchestrone Style 26A: 26-note pneumatic
  Monroe Organ Reed Co. Orchestrone Style 44A: 44-note pneumatic
  E.P. Needham Musical Cabinet: 39-note paper-as-valve, flywheel turns roll
  Nystrom Reform-Orgel: 28-note disc, with keyboard
  George Woods & Co.: 61-note barrel, with keyboard

Are there others of which I should be aware?

Now that I see my "list", there's really not much difference between
some of these (such as the Maxfield, or the Nystrom) and larger organs.
But by design, certainly some (such as the Celestina Organ or the E.P.
Needham) are much closer to an organette than a large organ.  And
hardly anyone would notice the George Woods was other than a harmonium,
were it not for the crank.  Is there really some firm criteria to
separate these, or is this a "category" that doesn't really exist?
If so, what criteria?  If not, which ones are considered "organettes"?

I have the possibility of making an "offer" for a Celestina Pedal
Organ -- any suggestion as to what one would be worth?

Thanks,
Todd Augsburger - Roller Organs
www.rollerorgans.com


(Message sent Sun 27 Aug 2006, 21:51:08 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Mid-size, Organs, Pedal, Player

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