The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-19
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A M e RICAN ORGANS.
From "Godey's Lodies' Book,' Feb
7atdry, 1866.
REED ORGANS, &c.

The following remarks and suggestions rela-
tive to this immensely popular instrument will
doubtless interest and profit very many of cur
readers; we commend the article to their care
full perusal:
a hundred and one makers Of Organs, Cot
tage, Parlor Cabinet American. School Or
CANS. etc.. are each claiming to make the best
instrument in the world. Being compare
lively q new instrument, as at present con-
structea, we are convinced the public are
much less capable of judging of its merits, or
dement's, than of most other instruments II
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 enlighten
them. We cheerfully concede the space for
this article, knowing that there IS hardly a
but IS more or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being Il great misfortune,
q real calamity, to any OF them to purchase a.
inferior or worthless Organ, fuinous to good
playing. and often a source OF much annoy
anee and vexaton. 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 p We answer, they are, in most eases,
nothing in the world but the old melodeon in
disguise. Many of the so-ealled 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 a more pretentlous exterior, and
more high sounding NAME But an organ,
to be in reality an orga2l, must have wind
chest or reservoir for air separate irom the
bellows, into which wind-ehestthe 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. o1hing
80 n Il %
of sound swelling and jerking spasmodieally
with every variation of force on the bellows,
which is always the case where the reeds open
direct into the bellows or ar-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 rs 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
so called, or melodeon which has the wind act
ing directly upon the reeds, is nothing more
nor less than Il huge accordion, dress it up as
you may. And when organists and true mu-
sicians become aware of the fact that they can
obtain those thai IRE organs in fact we'll
in nsme they will buy no more of the OBJ
jectlonable ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and aietinet from the bell
lows, so as 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-
troll, to be used al h5ite@a
The large divided bellows, or double bel
lows, is also very important improvement.
BY this means not only can the wind be sup
piled more evenly but with far greater
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
l@.1lx If 40 t.,ro- Il
having the wind-ohest or reservoir, all Will be
well. AS to the reeds, they must be scientif-
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-
sirable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points and that is the AMERI-
CAN ORGAN, made by S. D. 8: II: W.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA OFT, Wholesale
Agent, 743 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 is Il reverberating
sound-boX or board, and having the same inn
portant relation and part 10 perform that the
sounding board has to the piano. This feature
the makers have patented, and to it are owing
in Il great measure the entirely unequalled
fulness aud richness of tone so highly priced
byall those who have used these organs. They
also have the largest and best divided bellows
i'll 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 mechanically,
and, iud lying 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. 81
IBERIA OFT. the WHOLESALE AGENT, at
11:s !,RoA p,vAy, NEW YORK, and can assure
them be viii, in the most gentlemanly and
truthful manner, inlpart to them all the inlor-
nation they may desire, and send them de
scriptive circular, relative 70 this truly de-
lighttul instrument.