The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-02
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
A M e RICAN ORG AM s..
From :. Goaey's Ladies' Book" Feb
9uG1Y, 1866.
REED ORGANS, &c.

The following remarks ana 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:
tage, Paror 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-
much less capable of judging of its merits, or
dement's, than OF most other instruments. II
there is really essential difference in them,
if there are some excellent and worthless ones,
the public should have some criterion for iudg-
ing Of them, some facts which will enlighten
them. We cheerfuly concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly
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,
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
playing. and often source of much annoy
ance and vexaton 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 freed
organs y, We answer, they are, in most eases.
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 on edge to gain room, they have
simply put Il more pretentious exterior and
more high sounding name But an organ,
to be in reality G31 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 or pipe organ, even, smooth, firm, and
mellow; and this tone from re IDS cannot be
obtained in any other way known. Nothing
anneys true organist as 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-passages, instead
OF Il wind chest or sound box. And yet some
makers go so ft1 as to claim this spasmodic or
automatic jerking of the bellows on the reeds
as an excellence, lust as though they did not
know that it would very soon throw the reeds
out of tune, and njure the bellows and as
though it were not an easier matter to obtaina
much better and more easily managed swell
by other methods The truth is, any organ,
so called, or meodeon which has the wind act
ing directly upon the reeds, is nothing more
nor less than huge accordcon, dress it up as
you may And when organists and true nu
:. scians 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 dictinet from the bel
lows, as not to be acted on by the hard or
seft blowing, but convenient so that the play
er can use it with the knee, separate from the
HanuS OF le0t ana tuttS VIZ CON
.rol. to be used aitibitun.
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 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; them if the
bellows is of the requisite large size, and
having the wind-ehest or reservoir, all will be
hos
caly 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-
ssirable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the AZ ERR
CAN ORGA AN, made by s. d. & II. w.
SMITH, Of Boston, SIBERIA orr Wholesale
Agent, 5Sl Broadway, New York. These
organs have q wnd-chest extending the whole
length Of the instrument and constructed
as to act at the same time as reverberating
sound box or board and having the same i'm
portant relation and part t., 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 al! hose who have used these organs Tho
also have the largest and best divided below
No part of their work is slghted, no expense
or pains spared to make the American Organs
perte musically, as we'll as mechanically,
and, Judging from the immense sale Of them
at present, they bid fair to long maintain the
F proud position they have won by superior
m, ri alone. We would most heartily advise
all Interested to call upon or address Mr. ST.
IBERIA OFT, the WHOLESALE AGENT, at
5al 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-
scriptive circulars relative to this truly de-
hghtful instrument.