The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-07-05
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A M f RIG AN ORGA Ms.
from "Godey's Ladies' Book" Feb
rtaf.y, 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
ful perusal:
A hundred and one makers of Organs Cot
tagc Parlor Cabinet, American. School Or
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 judy
ing of them some facts which will enlighten
them. We cheerfully concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly a
but 5 mos or less interested in this topic. We
are also aware of its being 4 great misfortune
a real calamity, to any of them to purchaser.
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 p We answer, they are i'll most eases
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
general internal arrangement. With the bel
lows turned on edge to gain room, they have
simply put on a more pretentious exterior, and
a 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 ard perfect
itself into the full round tone, similar to the
flute or pipe organ, even, smooth firm and
mellow and this tone from re DIS cannot be
obtained in any other way known. Nothing
SO annoys true organist rs to have the volume
of sound swelling and jerking odieally
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 Il wind-chest or sound-b box. And yet some
makers go far as to claim this spasn,odic 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 Il
much better and more easily managed swell
by other methods. The truth is, any organ,
SO called, or meodeon which has the wind net
ing directly upon the reeds, is nothing more
nor less than huge accordion, dress it up as
you may. And when organists and true mt-
sieans become aware OF the fact that they can
obtain those that are organs in fact as well rs
iii name, they will buy ho more of the OBJ
jeetionable ones Then again the swell should
always be separate and iietnct from the bel
lows, not to be acted on by the hard or
soft blowing, but convenient SO that the play
can use It with the knee, sepa ate from the
hands or feet, and thus always under easy con
troll, to be used aafibitteH.
The large divided bellows, or double bell
lows, is also Il very important Improvement.
BY this means not onl Y 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 highest
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 scentili-
callv 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-
srable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the AM Fri
CAN ORG AN, made by S. d. Il II. w.
SMITH, of Boston, SIBERIA OFT, Wholesale
Agent, 58l Broadway, New York. These
organs have wind-chest extending the whole
length of the instrument, and so constructed
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 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 musicaly, as well 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
5Sl BROADWAY, New YORK. and can assure
them he will, in the most gentlemanly and
truthful manner, impart to them all the intor-
nation they may desire, and send them de-
scriptive circulars relative to this truly de-
lghtful instrument