Reed Organs

Aeolian Orchestrelle

Central to my mechanical musical instrument collection is my Orchestrelle. Built by the Aeolian company, my Orchestrelle went through the finishing shop on July 2, 1899, as noted on the shop tag still in place on the rear of the front access panel. The Orchestrelle is a player instrument which can play either 58 note organ rolls, or 65-note piano rolls. Its compliment of voices includes 7 complete ranks of reeds, and one 12-note bass octave. The 7 complete ranks are divided at note 25, middle c.  I plan to add another 12-note bass octave, and will change the 1/2-draw stop to an octave of its own, as the existing 16' tone is rather weak, even on its higher-than-normal pressure..

Starting as the bass end, stops are:

When I acquired this beauty, the case had been refinished, but the entire lower action including the pumping pedals, bellows, and reservoir had been removed and lost.  They have been replaced with a small Aeolian pipe organ regulator and an electric blower.  Hopefully, I'll be able to replace the lower unit someday.

Some people have told me that my Orchestrelle is only good for playing 'funeral music', but I must disagree! I've many rolls of ragtime, march, and popular songs, in addition to many classics such as 'Light Cavalry Overture', 'Poet and Peasant', 'William Tell', and 'Orpheus in Hades' that can knock your socks off!

Estey Model G 2-manual and Pedal Reed organ

Many churches and homes which had neither the space nor the funds to install a pipe organ used large reed organs like this Estey 2-manual and pedal instrument. It is physically large compared to 'home' electronics, but is MUCH smaller than a comparable pipe organ, and also much cheaper both to buy, and to maintain. In many ways, reed organs such as this are superior to electronic instruments as home practice instruments, lacking only the ability to play silently through headphones.

This isn't a very good photo, so another will follow.

Specification is: