The Value of a Reed Organ
The question (in some form or another) "What is my reed organ worth" is one
with which we have to deal most often. I hope you can appreciate that, without actually
seeing and testing any instrument, there is no ready answer. Even photographs do not get
us far, for an instrument that is striking to behold, yet unable to produce
"musick" is not likely to stir the imagination (or pocket-book) of a musician,
whilst it may well turn a furniture-freak into a well-spring of ready cash. Obviously, the
reverse is true: some fine musical instruments exist in absolutely plain (and occasionally
revolting) cases.
Nevertheless, there are a few guidelines that may be helpful.
- The organ that has "been in the family for generations" should stay there.
Yes, little grand-son Johnny at the ripe old age of 9 may have no interest in it, but when
he marries the church-organist 15 years on, what then? Therefore, document your
instrument! Who bought it? When? What did they pay for it? How many times have they moved
it? How many times has it been repaired? By whom? Are old pictures of it extant? (And so
forth!) Little Johnny may appreciate this trivia when it comes *his* turn to ask,
"what is this thing worth?"
- There just is *not* a large market for reed organs, anyway. They have not yet achieved
the status of the British "Penny-black" postage stamp - and are not likely to.
Reed organs take up too much room, are often found out of order, sometimes harbor vermin
and/or moths, are difficult to move about, are considered hopelessly passe’ by most,
and... Like I said, there just is NOT a large market for reed organs. I’m sorry, but
there it is!
- The most common brand (marque) is that of Estey, who built more reed organs than anyone
else. Consequently, there are still more Estey reed organs extant than any other brand,
which tends to make them less valuable. Unless it is in an especially ornate case; is an
especially old instrument; has one of the few "special" actions; or is in
particularly good condition, most Estey’s can’t be given away. They should,
therefore, be treasured for the family-piece they probably are, with the hope that future
generations will come to prize them more than we do today.
- As with any antique, the older the better. Officially, antiques today must be at least
100 years old: unfortunately, the bulk of reed organ production occurred from about 1895
to 1910, so most of the organs found today are not *yet* "antiques" - though
they may soon be, and may be worth hanging on-to just for that reason. Melodeons and small
cabinet organs from the period (roughly) 1850 to 1870 *are* antiques, and these, in good
condition, are beginning to fetch prices more in line with what everyone thinks any
antique should bring, but it is still the rare instrument that will garner more than a few
hundred dollars, except when you find "just the right person" who "cannot
live without it". Finding such folks is very difficult.
- Dating an instrument can be a problem, so some that really *are* antiques cannot be
proved to be so. These will not fetch the same prices as those whose provenance can be
documented.
- Insurance valuations are equally problematical: there is no such thing as
"replacement value" for an item which cannot be bought at the nearest Furniture
Mart or Music Store. Your insurance carrier will have to accept whatever value YOU place
on the instrument, taking into account its age, its sentimental value, and so forth; and
you will have to live with the premium that results.
- But, there *are* really RARE musical instruments of the reed organ variety which become
available occasionally, and these are *eagerly* sought by collectors who will pay top
dollar. Further communication is needed to determine if your organ is one of them.
James B. Tyler <organs@bdcsi.net>
959 S. Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
©Copyright by Jim Tyler. Last update to this page on
Thursday April 23, 2009
