Deaccessioned Estey Organ Museum Instruments and Parts Offered to the Public

by Not Signed In | Music | 1826 Views

Over the years the Estey Organ Museum in Brattleboro, VT has received a number of reed organs which are no longer needed for the museum’s permanent collection. As a way to free up storage space as well as pass some of these instruments on to those who would have a use for them, the museum is holding a Reed Organ Re-Homing Weekend on October 24 & 25, 10 AM to 4 PM, at the museum, 108 Birge Street, Brattleboro, VT.

These instruments range in condition from just dusty to requiring complete re-building or re-purposing. Also available are parts for reed organs, pipe organs, and early electronic organs.

The Estey Organ Museum was founded to celebrate the work of the Estey Organ Company which, over a period of 110 years, manufactured over 520,000 reed organs, 3200 pipe organs, and, in its final years, even electronic organs.

Reed organ manufacture began in Brattleboro in 1846 when 2 brothers, Joseph and Samuel Jones arrived and set up their business in rented shop space. In 1853 local businessman and entrepreneur Jacob Estey bought out the Jones brothers’ business, and the rest is history. Inventive geniuses Levi Fuller and William Haskell contributed their skills to the company’s success.

Questions about the event may be directed to Philip Stimmel, Managing Director of the Estey Organ Museum, (802) 246 8366 or info@esteyorganmuseum.com.

Comments | 1

  • Submitted by cgrotke on October 14, 2015 at 7:28 am

    good opportunity

    There should be quite a few people/organizations that would be interested in this. I know that for a while, the museum accepted any and all organs donated, which was nice to do but took up a lot of space. With everything accounted for, it’s easy now, I’d imagine, to see which instruments are the ones worth keeping in the collection, and which can go to good homes.

    So, who should get one?

    – musicians interested in a new sound
    – antique collectors and home decorators
    – theater groups looking for props
    – schools and churches
    – makers
    – artists and sculptors
    – choral groups
    – local history buffs
    – etc.

    Many of these old instruments are still in tune, and there are people around here who can advise and/or help you restore an organ.

    ….

    Also, for haunted organ lovers, this was in a recent email to me:

    “Organ Spooktacular with The Phantom

    The Phantom Of The Opera and Nosferatu Short Silent Films with Accompaniment By Mark Andersen at The Estey Pipe Organ. 20-28 Minute Versions Of The Movies With A Live Performance Of Songs From Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Musical With Original Organ Score By Mark Andersen

    A BENEFIT FOR THE ESTEY ORGAN MUSEUM
    $15 DONATION REQUESTED

    (802) 246-8366
    http://www.esteyorganmuseum.org

    FRIDAY • OCTOBER 30,
    2015 • 7:00 PM
    FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
    190 MAIN STREET
    BRATTLEBORO, VT

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