The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-30
SIBERIA OFT S COLUMN.
REED ORGANS, dc.

1 he following remarks and suggestions rela-
tive to this immensely popular instrument will
doubtless interest and profit very many Of our
renders; we commend the article to their care
full perusal:
y hundred and one makers Of Organs, Cot
tagc, Parlor Cabinet, American School Or
gans, etc, are each claiming to make the best
instrument in the world. Being compare
lively u new instrument, as at present con-
strncted, 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,
II there are some excellent and worthless ones,
the public should have some criterion for udg-
Ing Of them, some facts which will enlghten
them. We cheerfuly concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly a
family, or church, or school in all the land
but IS more OF less interested in this topic. We
are al aware of its being great misfortune,
a real calamity, to any of them to purchase az
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
playing, and often Il source OF much annoy
anee and veXation. We know this article to
emanate from candid and intelligent source,
and thus we Civ il to our readers
The question is often asked, what are freed
organs ~ We answer they are. in most eases,
nothing in the world but the old meodeon in
disguise. Many OF the so-callod organs have
the same bellows, the same reeds and the same
general internal arrangement. With the bel
simply put on a more pretentious exterior, and
more high sounding name. But aa organ
to be IN reality ca 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
fute or pipe organ, even, smooth, firm, and
mellow; and this tone from reds cannot be
obtained in any other way known. Nothing
SO annoys Il true organist as to have the volume
nd 4
with every variation Of force on the bellows
which is always the case where the reeds open
direct into the bellows or air-pasSages instead
OF Il nd-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 it would very soon throw the reeds
out OF tune, and lnlure the bellows and as
though it We're not an easier matter to obtaina
much better and more easily managed swell
by other methods. The truth is, any organ
50 called, or melodeon which has the wind act
ing directly upon the reeds is nothing more
nor less than ii huge accordion, dress it up as
You may. And when organists and true il4tl-
slcians become aware of the fact that they can
obFaln those that are organs in fact as well rs
in name, they will buy more Of the OBJ
jeetionable ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and dictinct from the bel
lows. as not to be acted on by the hard or
soft blowing, but convenient so that the play
er can use it with the knee, separate from the
hands or feet and thus always under easy con-
troll. to be used at Ibli1tln.
The large divided bellows, or double bel
lows, is also Il 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 bell
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
bellows is Of the requisite large size, and
hny n hn nlI.h ncf nh ,,;l L,
well. As to the reeds, they must be scentif-
cally tuned and and voiced, or all the other
good qualities in the world cannot produce a
good toned instrument The inquiry now very
naturally arises where can the organ be pro-
cured combining all these essential and de-
sirable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the ANIERI-
CAN ORGAN, made by S. ID. & II. W.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA Orr, Wholesale
Agent, 5sl Broadway, New York. These
organs have wind-chest extending the whole
length of the instrument, and constructed
as to act at the same time MS 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
the makers have patented, and to it are owing
in n great measure the entirely unequalled
inllness aud richness of tone 50 highly priced
byaif hose who have used these orgaHs. They
a.ss, have the largest and best divided beloN
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 musically, as we'll 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
mt r.t alone. We would most heartily advise
all Interested to call upon or address Mr. ST.
IBERIA OFT, the Wholesale AGENT, at |
53l BROADWAY, New YORK, and can assure
them he will, in the most gentlemanly and
truthful manner, impart to them all the infor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scriptive circulars relative to this truly de-
lightful instrument.