The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-04
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A MEXICAN ORG ANS.
From !" Godey's Ludies' Book" FEB
gualy, 1866.
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 i'll the world. Being compara-
lively new instrument, as at present con-
strueted, 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
If there are some excellent and worthless ones
the public should have some criterion for judg-
ing Of them, some facts which will en1ighten
this article, knowing that there is hardly II
family, or church, or school in all the land
but is moro or less interested in this topic We
are also aware of its being great misfortune
a real calamity, to any of them to purchase az
inferior or worthless Organ ruinous to good
ance and veXation. We know this article to
emanate from Il candid and Intelligent source,
and thus we give it to our readers.
The question is often asked what are freed
organs ~ 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
general internal arrangement. With the bel
lows turned on edge to gain room, they have
simply put on Il more pretentious exterior, and
a more high sounding name. But an organ,
to be IN reality an organ, must have Il wind
chest reservoir for air separate from the
bellows, into which wind-ehest 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
so annoys true organist as to have the volume
of sound swelling and jerking spasmodcally.
with every variation Of force on the bellows,
which is always the ease where the reeds open
direct into the bellows or r-passages, instead
makers go so far rs to claim this spasmodc
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 iniure the bellows and as
though it were not an easier matter to obtain
much better and more easily managed swell
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 a huge accordion, dress it up as
you may. And when organists and true mu-
scians become aware of the fact that they can
obtain those that are organs in fact well as
in name they will buy no more of the OBJ
jeetionable ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and aictinct from the bell
lows, SO rs not to be acted on by the hard or
err can use it with the knee, separate from the
hands or feet, and thus always under easy con-
.rol, to be used adH6it,um.
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
hnl low of hn ,ic.tn oes,.n
having the wind-chest or reservoir, all will be
we'll. As to the reeds, they must be scientf-
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-
sirable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the A NJ ERR
CAN ORGAN, made by S. D. & II. W.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA Orr, Wholesale
Agent, 5S1 Broadway, New York. These
organs have u wnd-chest extending the whole
length of the instrument, and so constructed
to act at the same time as rcverberating
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 q great measure the entirely unequalled
fullness aud richness of tone so highly priced
hv all those who have used these organs. They
also have the largest and best divided bellows
III 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, rs we'll as mechanically,
and, judging from the immense sale of them
ut present, they bid fair to long maintain the
proud position they have won by superior
merit 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 gcntlemanly 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.
mo USIC TEA III + RS.