![]() The Estey Piano Company opened in New York City in 1889-later moved to Blufton, IN, in 1927-and built over 191,000 instruments until 1965 when the business was sold. These instruments were sold as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The Estey Organ Company, based in Brattleborough, VT, was in business for over 100 years (1846-1955) and built over 520,000 harmoniums or reed organs as well as 3,200 pipe organs after 1901. This harmonium was donated to the School of Music several years ago by Jeri Jones and more recently was outfitted with a new blower and a platform by Scott Smith Organ Co., of East Lansing, MI. It did not require the typical pump pedals to supply the wind to the internal bellows. It is an example of the type of instrument that Estey built that either could be electrified and/or outfitted with a rotary blower handle. The SOM harmonium consists of 2 manuals or keyboards plus a pedalboard and looks just like a typical pipe organ console. The School of Music harmonium is indeed an historic instrument, its serial number being 437,143, and dating from between 1920-1925. The instrument is better described as an electrified harmonium, reed organ, or pump organ, and occupies a fascinating period of history in keyboard instrument development. Alumni Artist Nicholas Schmelter presents a recital on the School of Music’s Estey organ in the School of Music Lobby on Sunday, September 16 at 3:00 p.m.
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