New Projects
Somebody gave me this antique reed organ to restore. My wife thinks I'm a little crazy. To be honest, I might just be. It is full of bugs, mold and mouse detritus. The bellows are still functional. I have yet to pull the reeds. the great part though, is how much nothing has been done to over the years.
Worst case, the native Doug Fir matches the wood on my trawler.
It is a ca. 1904 Cramer, made in Corvallis. I know very little about it, but found this entry from the 1902 Corvallis Gazette:
Enterprise organ-factory CG64 Jan 10, 1902
Cramer Organ Factory; ed. Gault of Hillsboro visited; says The time was when the wealthy installed pianos in the music room... Then came competition and cheapening of products so that now almost anyone can have a piano... the nabob...turn to pipe organs where the expenditure of money is almost without limit. Then the range of music and musical effect for the pipe organ is greater. Firms in the east are having their most profitable customers for those who are putting organs in palatial houses. Indeed some factories get no orders from cathedrals and churches. The Cramers at Corvallis are preparing themselves to take care of this trade which is coming within the next few years. The demand for parlor organs, a reed instrument is brisk and the company has orders ahead. They take all the skilled workmen they can get. In addition they have a number of apprentices... At present fourteen men are at work and the tradesmen of Corvallis report that already the effect of this small pay roll is noticable [sic]. The instruments are beautiful and morereasonable in price than Oregonians have been accustomed to hear quoted. +


