Below are a couple of dozen points of information that I've done on the reed organ. My guess is that you, like so many other people that own reed organs, don't know a whole lot about what makes them tick.
However, the one thing that almost all antique organs have in common is, you have to pump them with your feet, as a consequence, the general public came to call them pump organs. But if the truth were known the pump organ industry, the people that built them, always called them reed organs because their sound is produced from brass reeds. Incidentally, some of these brass reeds can be as small as 3/4 of an inch in length to over 5 inches.
The most common antique organ we see today is the parlor style pump organ because back in the 1880s, families would usually keep their pump organs in their parlor rooms (later called living rooms, today called family rooms).
- Do You Have Questions About Your Pump Organ?
This document describes how you can contact Rod Fudge of Pump Organ Restorations to get answers to your questions about pump organs or reed organs.
- How Do I Find My Organ's Serial Number?
If you're not sure where to locate the serial number on your antique reed organ, this article will help you find it.
- Missing Manufacture's Name
This can be a problem. Unfortunately, some pump organs today no longer show the name of the manufacturer which always appears along the front of the organ's stop board.
- Who Really Built My organ?
Although the overwhelming number of pump organs built in this country bore the real manufacturer’s name, many did not.
- My Pump Organ Won't Make a Sound!
Many people have no idea how to get any sound out of their reed organ. Is that you? In this quick article, Rod reveals the solution.
- Leading Reed Organ Manufacturers
As in almost any industry there are always a handful of companies that are recognized as "Industry Leaders." On this page, you'll find a list of the two dozen or so best-known Reed Organ manufacturers
- America's 653 Pump Organ Companies
In the United States alone, there were approximately 653 names of pump organ companies! Rod presents the counts broken down by state.
- Pump Organ Manufacturers
At one time or another (generally between 1840 and 1930) there were 653 pump organ manufacturers in the United States.
- Proper Way to Operate the Foot Pedals
Rod explains how to properly operate the foot pedals on an antique pump organ.
- The Customer's Restoration Photo Album CD
One of the products of a pump organ restoration done by Rod Fudge is a photo album showing all aspects of the restoration process.
- Does My Organ Have Ivory Keys?
Many pump organ owners are interested in knowing if their organ has ivory keys. In this article, Rod explains how to find out.
- What Are The Folding Knee Levers For?
Ever wonder what the folding levers located above the foot pedals are used for? Rod sheds a little light on the mystery...
- Is It Pump Organ, or Reed Organ?
The answer to a question that comes up a lot in my line of work: Is it a pump organ, or a reed organ?
- How Can My Reed Organ Be In Tune and Yet Out of Tune?
How can my reed organ be in tune (relative to the notes on the organ itself) and yet out of tune (relative to other instruments)? This article looks at the specifics of reed organ tuning, and why some organs aren't in tune with other instruments.
- No More Foot Pumping
An electric bellows unit can be retrofitted to your antique pump orgran so that you can have an option of whether or not to manually pump the organ by foot.
- Meet the Brass Reed
Meet the all-important brass reed. It's the brass reed that makes the sound we hear when playing a pump organ.
- Number Of Stops
Is it important how many stops my pump organ has? Does more stops mean it's a better pump organ? This article from Pump Organ Repair and Restoration Services answers just that question!
- Common Stop Face Names
American pump organ manufacturers used approximately ninety different names to identify a wide variety of different musical tones and pitches. This page, provided by Pump Organ Restorations, lists about 40 commonly used "stop face names"
- Reed Organ Seats
Piano Stools are NEVER Reed Organ Seats! Here, we look at what a proper reed organ stool (or seat) really looked like, along with a variety of pictures for illustration.
- They Were Called Melodeons
Articles and information about Melodeons; small reed organs with a five- or six-octave keyboard, most often housed in a piano-like case.
- Home Delivery Way Back When
A picture showing how home delivery of pump organs was accomplished in the 1800's.
- The Men That Built The Reed Organs
Who exactly built all of those old reed organs? Here's a picture that answers the question!
- Types of Reed Organs
In this article, Rod outlines the 12 different categories of reed organs, complete with pictures.
- Tuning the Reeds
Some insight into the process Rod uses to tune an antique reed organ.
- Pump Organs at War
Pump organs were used throughout all branches of the armed forces during both World Wars, as well as the Spanish American and Korean conflicts.
- Reed Organ Manufacturers By Country
An interesting chart showing the count of reed organ manufacturers by country. It's fascinating to see all of the places from which reed organs and pump organs originated!
- The ORGAVAC
The "ORGAVAC" - Reed Organ Vacuum Pumps - Completely eliminate foot pumping and improve the performance of any reed organ!
- Do I Own a Stencil Organ?
Although the overwhelming number of pump organs built in this country bore the real manufacturer’s name, some did not. It was common for pump organ manufacturers to build organs for other pump organ companies.
- A. B. Chase Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the A. B. Chase Company.
- Adler Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Adler Organ Company.
- Beckwith Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Beckwith Company.
- Bell Pump Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Bell Pump Organ Company.
- Burdett Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Burdett Organ Company
- Cable Hobart Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Cable Hobart organ Company.
- Carhart & Needham Organ Company
The following is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Carhart & Needham Organ Company.
- Chicago Cottage Organ Company
This is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Chicago Cottage Organ Company.
- Clough & Warren Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Clough & Warren Organ Company
- Cornish Pump Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Cornish Pump Organ Company.
- Dominion Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Wilcox & White Company.
- E. P. Carpenter & Company
The following is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the E. P. Carpenter & Company.
- Farrand & Votey Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Farrand & Votey Organ Company.
- Geo. P. Bent Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Geo. P. Bent Company.
- George A. Prince & Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Prince Company.
- Hamilton Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Hamilton Organ Company.
- J. Estey Organ Company
J. Estey Organ Co. “The largest pump organ company in America”
- D. W. Karn Organ Co. Ltd
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the D. W. Karn Organ Co. Ltd.
- W. W. Kimball Organ Company
This is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Kimball company.
- Lyon & Healy Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Lyon & Healy organ Company.
- Mason & Hamlin Organ Company
This is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Mason & Hamlin Organ Company
- Miller Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Miller Organ Company.
- Moline Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Moline Organ Company.
- Newman Brothers Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Newman Company
- Packard Brothers Organ Company
This is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Packard Brothers Organ Company.
- Prescott Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Prescott organ Company.
- W. W. Putnam Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Putnam Company.
- Shipman Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Shipman Organ Company.
- The Aeolian Company
The company started out in Meriden, CT., 18 W. 23rd St., New York, NY. Established 1891, and later were known as Æolian Organ and Music Company.
- The Cable Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Cable Organ Company.
- Vocalion Organ Company
The company was located in Meriden, CT; 18 W. 23rd St., and New York, NY 1900.
- W. Doherty & Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the W. Doherty & Company.
- Weaver Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Weaver Company.
- Western Cottage Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Western Cottage Organ Company.
- Wilcox & White Organ Company
Unfortunately, this is just about all the information that’s survived the passing of time on the Wilcox & White Company.
