All manner of these little keyboard instruments are here and there and the general theme seems to be portability and travel. Traveling musicians, ministers, salesmen, and whatnot could take these little instruments about without much difficulty. There are even smaller instruments that fold up into little cases.
I had similar model at my home. It was restored, polished & checked every year during summer. It worked very fine during Rainy season with no air leak from the reed board. Learnt to play on it. Alas it is lost. Only memories of it remains.
Mason & Hamlin variously referred to this style as a yacht organ, or the kindergarten organ, implying it could be used onboard a pleasure craft, or in the nursery.
That is one small reed organ. I rebuilt a Mason & Hamlin reed organ in 2009 that was in very poor condition.The most interesting thing I learned was that the sound is created by air being sucked down over the reeds and into the bellows. In other words a vacuum is created in the bellows to draw the air down. I always thought the air was blown up over the reeds from the bellows.
That is an essential difference between the *harmonium*, or European reed organ, and the *melodeon*, or "American organ". The Carhart patent, circa 1847, specified the use of suction bellows, which tended to suppress the higher partials of the reed harmonics. This gave a softer, mellower tone to the instrument.
This is really amazing. I bought this exact organ today at an antique shop. I don't play but I like old musical instruments and music boxes. This is going to be really fun to fix up. Mine is missing the music rack and the peddles. From the video I can see how to reproduce the music rack but I can't see the peddles. Oh well I'll look elsewhere. As I said I don't play but I like the instruments. I've been watching your videos for a while but was really surprised when your video came up when I searched for Mason and Hamlin. Thanks for all your videos.
I have a similar organ that is even older. It was made in Paris by Theodore Muller. His model won an award at the Paris Exposition of 1851. At this point it is a bit wheezy and needs restoration. This inspires me to see about getting that done. Unfortunately, the rebuilder you mention is in New York and I’m in Texas. 😕
I have a reed organ like this one. My dad used to play, now he is no more. The bellows of the organ is damaged and I couldn't get it repaired. I am not sure whether it's made by Mason & Hamlin, but it looks more or less same. Also the sound is same. I am amazed to hear the sound in your video.
Nice video of a nice organ! I have two Estey organs this size in my home that need restoration. One folds up and the other one does not fold. They are both pretty late. The non-folding organ is from 1940 and the folding one is from about 1950. May try to find new homes for them.
Wow, that's pretty cool James. I wish I liked the sound of organ music but, for some reason, I am not fond of it. But I love my piano. Still such a great little instrument and wonderful that these things could be taken to entertain the troops, etc. Thanks for all your great videos. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter (if it applies to you, of course). Carol
I wish the modern day musical instrument could continue to produce the reed organ but with electric blower(must be silent one) & 2 Manual with 61 keys(C2 to C7) & with a 32 notes AGO-spec: concave/radiating pedal keyboard & with 16', 8', 4', 2' stop.
Greetings to you James, the Mason and Hamlin reed organ is the business, my word it certainly shows it`s age in a very good way, that sound is so authentic to the time, all of those decades have sweetend the wood to it`s very heart. i hope that it was for sale and you purchased it ? (i noticed it was not on the restorers web-site) both the film music and Bach sounded so perfect on that (your word) adorable little organ : and of course the most wonderful thing is that it lives on. Lovely video James, thank you.
I never thought about buying it until we had to leave and I just wanted to take it with me! I have since made several videos of this little one on location that are really cool, I will upload them soon.
This is so interesting. I had no idea such an instrument existed. And the thought that, because of its portability, it could be taken along to entertain troops, and keep up morale, is very cool. But every time I see you play a pump organ, I wonder if the rhythm of the pumping action of your legs ever affects the rhythm of your playing. Probably not now, but in the beginning?
"What do you think it is???".. James the thing is in the title🤣🤣🤣
Nvm about that, this video was very inspirational tho
All manner of these little keyboard instruments are here and there and the general theme seems to be portability and travel. Traveling musicians, ministers, salesmen, and whatnot could take these little instruments about without much difficulty. There are even smaller instruments that fold up into little cases.
I had similar model at my home. It was restored, polished & checked every year during summer. It worked very fine during Rainy season with no air leak from the reed board.
Learnt to play on it. Alas it is lost. Only memories of it remains.
Mason & Hamlin variously referred to this style as a yacht organ, or the kindergarten organ, implying it could be used onboard a pleasure craft, or in the nursery.
James,
That Bach Hymn sounds absolutely beautiful!
Fantastic organ and cute:)
Cheers,
Rik Spector
Very nice a portable Reed organ with melodious sound.
That is one small reed organ. I rebuilt a Mason & Hamlin reed organ in 2009 that was in very poor condition.The most interesting thing I learned was that the sound is created by air being sucked down over the reeds and into the bellows. In other words a vacuum is created in the bellows to draw the air down. I always thought the air was blown up over the reeds from the bellows.
That is an essential difference between the *harmonium*, or European reed organ, and the *melodeon*, or "American organ". The Carhart patent, circa 1847, specified the use of suction bellows, which tended to suppress the higher partials of the reed harmonics. This gave a softer, mellower tone to the instrument.
My guess is it's a Mason & Hamlin style 110 reed organ.
I'm surprised that it has such a low pitched sound! I thought it'd be really high pitched. Such a cool little instrument.
This is really amazing. I bought this exact organ today at an antique shop. I don't play but I like old musical instruments and music boxes. This is going to be really fun to fix up. Mine is missing the music rack and the peddles. From the video I can see how to reproduce the music rack but I can't see the peddles. Oh well I'll look elsewhere. As I said I don't play but I like the instruments. I've been watching your videos for a while but was really surprised when your video came up when I searched for Mason and Hamlin. Thanks for all your videos.
I think you are going to love your baby Mason and Hamlin organ.
Amazing find ! congrats James
I have a similar organ that is even older. It was made in Paris by Theodore Muller. His model won an award at the Paris Exposition of 1851. At this point it is a bit wheezy and needs restoration. This inspires me to see about getting that done. Unfortunately, the rebuilder you mention is in New York and I’m in Texas. 😕
I have a reed organ like this one. My dad used to play, now he is no more. The bellows of the organ is damaged and I couldn't get it repaired. I am not sure whether it's made by Mason & Hamlin, but it looks more or less same. Also the sound is same. I am amazed to hear the sound in your video.
Nice video of a nice organ! I have two Estey organs this size in my home that need restoration. One folds up and the other one does not fold. They are both pretty late. The non-folding organ is from 1940 and the folding one is from about 1950. May try to find new homes for them.
Good work!
Good continuation!
A great Busking Gimmick...Eye and Ear catching.
Wow, that's pretty cool James. I wish I liked the sound of organ music but, for some reason, I am not fond of it. But I love my piano. Still such a great little instrument and wonderful that these things could be taken to entertain the troops, etc. Thanks for all your great videos. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter (if it applies to you, of course).
Carol
I wish the modern day musical instrument could continue to produce the reed organ but with electric blower(must be silent one) & 2 Manual with 61 keys(C2 to C7) & with a 32 notes AGO-spec: concave/radiating pedal keyboard & with 16', 8', 4', 2' stop.
Greetings to you James, the Mason and Hamlin reed organ is the business, my word it certainly shows it`s age in a very good way, that sound is so authentic to the time, all of those decades have sweetend the wood to it`s very heart. i hope that it was for sale and you purchased it ? (i noticed it was not on the restorers web-site) both the film music and Bach sounded so perfect on that (your word) adorable little organ : and of course the most wonderful thing is that it lives on.
Lovely video James, thank you.
I never thought about buying it until we had to leave and I just wanted to take it with me! I have since made several videos of this little one on location that are really cool, I will upload them soon.
Thanks James, looking forward to the uploads. Regards Simon.
very cool sound
Sounds like me playing the piano accordion when I was a kid . Memories.
Accordions are very cool.
Sounds fantastic:)
Are you aware that a cat came to hear you play? Very nice playing as usual. Nice little instrument. Loved the Chorale too.
I guessed it as an antique sewing machine! I guess I was 'way off :-)
How cute!
I had the same one made in India by Sarat Ghosh and company - Kolkatta.
This is so interesting. I had no idea such an instrument existed. And the thought that, because of its portability, it could be taken along to entertain troops, and keep up morale, is very cool. But every time I see you play a pump organ, I wonder if the rhythm of the pumping action of your legs ever affects the rhythm of your playing. Probably not now, but in the beginning?
it almost sounds like a melodica
Tango on these organ....
He's got alot of cutting boards
It's like an accordian
Yes, they both work in about the same way using reeds and all.
a Magnus organ
Definitely a weird one. No less interesting though!