The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-05-10
SIBERIA OTIS COLUMN.
4 NJ + r ! G AN ORG ANS.
from "Godey's Lmlies' Book." fed-
rNd1Y, 1866.
REED ORGANS, &c.

The following remarks and suggestions rea-
tive to this immensely popular instrument will
doubtless interest and profit very many. of our
readers we commend the article to their care
full pcrusa
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
demerits 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 enllghten
them. We cheerfully concede the space for
this article, knowing that there is hardly Il
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,
real calamity, to any of them to purchase an
inferior or worthless Organ, ruinous to good
playing, and often source of much annoy
ance and vexation. 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 freed
organs" 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 on more pretentious 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-chestth 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
so annoys Il true organist as To have the volume
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 air-passages, instead
of a wind-chest or sound-boxs And vet some
makers go SO far as to claim this spasmodic 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, amy organ,
called, or melodeon whichhas the wind act
Ing directly upon the reeds, IS nothing more
nor less than a huge accordion, dress it up as
you may. And when organists and true mu
scians become aware of the fact that they
obtain those that are organs i'll fact As well as
in name, they will buy no more OF the OBJ
jectionabe ones. Then again the swell should
always be separate and aictinct from the bel
soft blowing, but convenient, SO that the play
er can use it with the knee, separate from the
hands or feet, and thus always under easy con-
trol, to be used ut Hbitum.
The large divided bellows. or double bel
lows, is also a very important improvements
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; 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 scientific
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-
srable qualities? There is only one possess
ing all these points, and that is the AMERI-
CAN ORGAN, made by S. D. & II. W.
SMITH, Of Boston, SIBERIA Orr, Wholesale
Agent 748 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 a 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 a great measure the entirely. uncqualled
tullness 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, expense
or pains spared to make the American Organs
perfect musically, as well y. 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.. 81
IBERIA OFT the WHOLESALE AGENT, ut
AS BROADWAY, New YORK, and can assure
then. he will in the most gcntlemanly and
truthful, manner inpart to them all the i.llor-
nation obey may desire. and send them de-
scliptive Circular relative 10 this truly de-
lgl.fui instrument.