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We bought this organ around 2017 from a retired church minister in Portapique, Nova Scotia, Canada. Apparently he had acquired it from a former reed organ museum in Truro, Nova Scotia. We don't know how long it had been there, nor where it had been before then. The instrument is a pleasure to play, and has a good volume and reasonably airtight wind. Internal cleaning and some basic repairs have been made in the recent past, and the outer case has been refinished so it looks very nice.
We think it is a chapel organ, as it is quite large and, though the back is not veneered, it does have some decorative bevelling and utilitarian metal screens where the sound is emitted. There is also a metal lever and some kind of metal valve on the right hand side, perhaps so someone other than the organist could do the pumping!
Although several stops are disconnected on the treble side of the keyboard, it seems that an 8 foot and 2 foot stop play even when all the treble stops are pushed in.
Internally, the instrument features a Subbass set of reeds as well as a soundbox which we were told is unusual. The left knee swell activates the coupler (which can also be activated by a stop knob), and the right knee swell opens the dampers, which would also be controlled by the Forte stop, though the knob is disconnected.
My wife and I would love to find out more about this instrument and its history. We could not find a date, and the only labeling is a piece of paper inside explaining how to change the reeds and stating that the manufacture was Bell Piano & Organ Co. Limited of Guelph, Ontario. Thanks for your interest and for any information you can point us to!
We think it is a chapel organ, as it is quite large and, though the back is not veneered, it does have some decorative bevelling and utilitarian metal screens where the sound is emitted. There is also a metal lever and some kind of metal valve on the right hand side, perhaps so someone other than the organist could do the pumping!
Although several stops are disconnected on the treble side of the keyboard, it seems that an 8 foot and 2 foot stop play even when all the treble stops are pushed in.
Internally, the instrument features a Subbass set of reeds as well as a soundbox which we were told is unusual. The left knee swell activates the coupler (which can also be activated by a stop knob), and the right knee swell opens the dampers, which would also be controlled by the Forte stop, though the knob is disconnected.
My wife and I would love to find out more about this instrument and its history. We could not find a date, and the only labeling is a piece of paper inside explaining how to change the reeds and stating that the manufacture was Bell Piano & Organ Co. Limited of Guelph, Ontario. Thanks for your interest and for any information you can point us to!
Information | |
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ROS Reg No. | 6506 |
Date Registered | 2/27/2020 |
Views | 22503 |
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Serial | 122748 |
Manufactured Date | 1914+/- |
Case Style | Parlor (with or without top) |
Maker Location | Guelph, Ontario |
Model | Regal |
Knee swells | Yes |
Wood | Walnut |
Keys | 61 |
Manual(s) | 1 |
Range | F-F |
Stops | 17 |
Pump method | Pumped by Foot |
Stops |
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Viola 8 |
Principal 8 |
Piano (disconnected) |
Dulcet 4 |
Subbass 16 |
Coupler (all notes play a note one octave higher) |
Tremolo (out of order) |
Forte (disconnected, but right knee swell also opens the dampers and works well) |
Piccolo 2 (disconnected but seems to sound anyway) |
Cremona (disconnected) |
Angelica (disconnected) |
Bassoon (disconnected) |
Cello |
Echo |
Dulciana |
Melodia (disconnected) |
Flute 4 |