The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-23
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A NJ F. r. &c a n ORG Al Ms.
From Godey's Ladies' BoOk,' Feb
''naiy, 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 in the world. Being compare
lively a 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 concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly a
family, or church, or school in all the land
but is more or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being great misfortune,
q real calamity, to any Of them to purchase
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
ance and vexation. We know this article to
emanate from candid and intelligent source,
and thus we Civ , it to our readers.
The question is often asked, what are reed
organs?' We answer, they are, in most cases,
nothing in the world but the old meodeon 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 edge to gain room, they have
simply put on a more pretentous exterior, and
more high sounding name. But an organ,
to be in reality an 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
flute pipe organ, even, smooth firm. and
mellow; and this tone from re IDS cannot be
obtained in any other way known. Nothing
SO annoys a true organst as to have the volume
of sound swelling and jerking systematically
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 wind-chest or sound-b box. And yet some
makers go so far as to claim this spaslnodic 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 were not an easier matter to obtain 4
/ 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 organists and true lnu-
sicans 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
jectionabe ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and aietinet from the bel
lows, SO as not to be acted on by the hard or
soft blowing, Dut 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 al ab1tun.
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 "a: greater ease
to the performer, from the fact that either bel
lows alone will be sufficient for the lightest
melodies, thus permitting the player 70 s,i.tngt
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
we'll As to the reeds, they must be seentif-
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
CAN ORGAN, made by $. d. \ II. W.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA OFT, Wholesale
Agent, 5Sl 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 revcrberating
sound-box or board, and having the same inn
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 a great measure the entirely unequalled
fullness aud richness of tone SO highly priced
hya those who have used these organs. They
also have the largest and best divided bellows
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
merit alone We would most heartily advise
all interested to call upon or address Mr.. ST.
IBERIA OFT, the Wholesale AGENT, at
SD BROADWAY, New YORK, and can assure
thnn hn will the M pantlpmn " and
truthful manner, impart to them all the infor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scriptivc circulars relative to this truly de-
lightfnl instrument.
ITO M IL s G III C III IL Z s