The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-09-27
S B ERIA OTIS COLUMN.
4 MERICAN ORGANS.
From "Godey's LADIES' Booh," FEB
ruay.y, 1865.
REED ORGANS, &c.
REED ORGANS, &c.

The following remarks and suggestions rea-
tive to this mmensely 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 Il new instrument, as at present con-
structcd, 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 judy
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 moro or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being great misfortune,
real calamity, to any of them to purchase an
inferior worthless Organ, runous 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 freed
organs % We answer, they are, in most cases.
nothing in the world but the old melodeon in
disguise. Many of the so-caled organs have
the same bellows, the same reeds, and the same
lows turned on edge to gain room, they have
simply put Oh a more pretentious exterior, and
more high sounding name. But an organ,
to be in reality an organ, must have a 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
so annoys true organist as to have the volume
of sound swelling and jeE king spasmodically
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 a wind-chest or sound-box And yet some
makers go so far as to claim this spasmodie 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 injure the bellows and as
though it We're not an easier matter to obtain
much better and more easily managed swell
by other methods The truth is any organ,
ing directly upon the reeds, is nothing more
nor less than huge ACCORDION, dress it up as
you may. And when organists and true mu-
sieians become aware Of the fact that they can
obtain those that are organs in fact as we'll as
in namc they will buy no more Of the OBJ
jectionable ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and dietnet 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 adHbitat7n.
The large divided bellows or double bell
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 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
bellows is of the requisite large size, and
having the wind-chest or reservoir, all will be
well. AS to the reeds, they must be sscientifi-
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-
cured combining all these essential and de-
sirable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the AMERI-
CAN ORGAN, made by S. d. & H. W.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA Orr, Wholesale
Agent, 58l Broadway, New York. These
organs have a 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
the makers have patented, and to it are owing
in great measure the entirely unequalled
fulness aud richness of tone so highly priced
by all those who have used these organs. They
also have the largest and best divided Lelows
in use, which is another important feature.
N part of their work is sighted, no expense
or pains spared to make the American Organs
perfect unsteady, 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
merit alone. We would most heartily advise
all interested to call upon or address Mr.. ST.
IBERIA OFT, the WHOLESALE AGENT, at
531 BROADWAY, New YORK, and can assure
them he will, in the most gentlemanly and
truthful manner, impart to them all the nfor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scriptive circulars relative to this truly de-
lightful instrument.
no M U SIC TIE "A G III E r S: