The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-07-26
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A NJ f RICAN MS.
From "Godey's Ladies' Book" Feb
retary, 1866.
REED ORGANS, &c.
REED ORGANS, &c.

The following remarks and suggestions rela-
tive to this immensely popular instrument will
doubtless interest and profit very many of our
readers; we commend the article to their care
full perusal:
A hundred and one makers of Organs, Cot
tage, Parlor Cabinet, American. School Or
gans, etc, are each claiming to make the best
instrument in the world. Being compare
lively q new instrument, as at present con-
structed, we are convinced the public are
much less capable of judging of its merits or
dement's, than of most other instruments. If
there is really an essential difference in them,
the public should have some criterion for .judg-
ing OF them, some facts which will enlighten
them. We cheerfully concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly a
family, or church, or school in all the land,
but is more or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being Il great misfortune,
a real calamity, to any of them to purchase az
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
playing. and often source of much annoy
ance and vexation. We know this article to
emanate from a candid and intelligent source,
and thus we give it to our readers.
The question is often asked, what are reed
organs y We answer, they are, in most cases,
nothing in the world but the old melodeon in
disguise. Many of the so-called organs have
the same bellows the same reeds, and the same
lows turned on edge to gain room, they have
simply put on a more pretentous exterior, and
a more high sounding name But an organ,
to be in reality an organ, must have wind
chest or reservoir for air separate from the
bellows, into which wind-chest the reeds open,
and the tone has room to expand and perfect
itself into the full round tone, similar to the
flute or pipe organ, even, smooth, firm, and
mellow; and this tone from reeds cannot be
obtained in any other way known. Nothing
of sound swelling and jerking systematically
with every variation of force on the bellows,
which is always the ease where the reeds open
direct into the bellows or air passages, instead
of a wind-chest or sound-box. And yet some
makers go so far as to claim this spasmodic or
automatic jerking of the bellows ON the reeds
as an excellence, just as though they did not
know that 1T would very soon throw the reeds
out of tune, and injure the bellows; and as
though 1t were not an easier matter to obtain
by other methods The truth is, any organ,
so called, or melodeon which has the wind act
ing directly upon the reeds, is nothing more
nor less than huge ACCORDION, dress il up as
you may. And when organists and true mu-
sicans become aware of the fact that they can
obtain those that are organs in fact as we'll as
in name, they will buy no more Of the OBJ
iectionable ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and actinet from the bel
lows, so as not to be acted on by the hard or
SolJ DloWlHS, btlJ CGIlNtHleHl SO lIaL the play
er use it with the knee, separate from the
hands or feet, and thus always under easy con-
trol, to be used adhbitnm.
The large divided bellows, or double bel
lows, is also a very important improvement.
By this means not only can the wind be sup
piled more evenly, but with far greater ease
to the performer, from the fact that either bel
lows alone will be sufficient for the lightest
melodies, thus permitting the player to change
about and rest the feet at will; then, if the
having the wind-chest or reservoir, all will be
well. AS to the reeds, they must be scientiti-
cally tuned and and voiced, or all the other
good qualities in the world cannot produce
good toned instrument. The inquiry now very
naturally arises, where can the organ be pro
srable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the AMERI-
CAN ORGAN, made by s. d. Il II. w.
SMITH, Of Boston, SIBERIA OFT, Wholesale
Agent, 5ol Broadway, New York. These
organs have wind-chest extending the whole
length of the instrument, and so constructed
as to act at the same time as a reverberating
sound-box or board, and having the same i'm
portant relation and part to perform that the
sounding board has to the piano. This feature
in a great, measure the entirely, unequalled
tll'ncss aud richness of tone highly priced
b. I'll hose who have used these orga i. They
.lso have The large and best divided bellows
in use which is another important feature
No part of their work is sighted, no expense
or pains spared to make the American Organs
perfect musicaly, as well as mechanically,
and, Judging from the immense sale Of them
at present, they bid fair to long maintain the
proud position they have won by superior
m, rit alone. We would most heartily advise
all interested to call upon or address Mr. 81
IBERIA OFT, the WHOLESALE AGENT, at
53l BROADWAY, New York, and can assure
them he will, in. the most gentemanly and
truthful manner, impart to them all the infor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scriiptive circulars relative to this truly de
lghtful instrument.