The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-06-28
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
4 NJ !iRICAN ORGANS.
From " Godey's Ladies' Book," Feb
1'uoty 1866.
REED ORGANS, DC.

The following remarks and suggestions rcla-
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 compara-
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,
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 coneede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly q
but IS mo- or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being a great misfortune,
real calamity, to any Of them to purchase az
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
playing, and often a source of much annoy
ance and vexation. We know this article to
emanatc from candid and Intelligent source,
and thus we Civ 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 meleaeon 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 more pretentious exterior, and
more high sounding name. But an organ,
to be in reality az orq0?a, must have a wind
chest or 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
annoys a true organisms to have the volume
Of sound swelling and jerking spasmodically
! with every variation of force on the bellows,
which is always the case where the reeds open
direct into the bellows Or air-passage: instead
of wind-chest or sound box. And yet some
makers go so far as to claim this spasmedie 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
ont of tune, and injure 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 !; huge accordion, dress it up as
you may. And when orSanlsts and true mll-
siciaIis 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 dietinct from the bel
lows so as net to be acted on by the hard or
en- can use it with the knee, separate from the
hands or feet and thus always under easy con-
.rol, 10 be used I'd li55tam;
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 lghtest
melodies thus permitting the player to change
about and rest the feet atswill; then, if the
L IL Tho l,,rr oryryn ,,,I
having the wind-chest OF reservoir, all will be
well. As to the reeds, they must be scientfi-
/ 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-
sirabe 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 OFT, Wholesale
Agent, 581 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 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
iullness aud richness of tone so highly priced
BIZ all those who have used these organs, They
also have the largest and best divided bellows
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 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
me rit 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 infor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scrptive circulars relative to this truly de-
lightful instrument.
ITO UsIC TEACH Frs