What was or is the largest Reed organ/Harmonium?

[Barrie Davis]

Hi

I can remember in my teens trying a 3manual and pedal reed organ somewhere in Shropshire, memories of this have made me wonder what was the biggest instrument of this kind ever built.

Best wishes

Barrie

[revtonynewnham]

Hi

As far as I know it was the pair of almost identical 3-manulas that Holt (or Birmingham) built, one of which was the late marmaduke Conway's practice organ at Ely.  I've played that when it was in the Saltaire museum - impressive instrument of the type.

Rob allen's web site has some catalogue exctrats from Holt - http://tardis.dl.ac.uk/FreeReed/organ_book/node6.html#SECTION00063000000000000000 along with a wealth of other information.  I seem to have mislaid my copy of the Saltaire collection catalogue to confirm the size of that instrument, which was a custom job.  2m Holts are more common - I've played at 2 churches that had them in the past - one with and one without pedals.

Estey in the States also made some 3 manual reed organs - I don't know how big their largest model was.

I will post the question on one of the reed organ lists and see what answers we come up with.

Every Blessing

Tony

Estey in the States

[revtonynewnham]

Hi

Further to the above, a little more searching reveals a 4 manual by Sawer - again info courtesy of Rob Allen

http://tardis.dl.ac.uk/FreeReed/organ_book/node7.html#SECTION00072000000000000000

Every Blessing

Tony

[David Drinkell]

Little Waldingfield Church in Suffolk had a three manual and pedal reed organ until it was replaced by a Philicorda in the seventies.  In 1990, Peter Bumstead installed the organ (Hart c.1809, subsequently enlarged) from St. Mary's, Thetford, which fits the place like a glove.  I never found out what happened to the reed organ.  It was not exceptionally large, but I've never seen another three manual example.

[revtonynewnham]

Hi

A correspondent (and Harmonium "expert") in Holland informs me that Sawer made a 90 stop, 5 manual reed organ - but it was never sol, only a demo for custom-builod clients to hear the various sounds that they had available.  I recjkon that probably takes the crown.

So far, the largest reed organ sold seems to be 3 3/27 Holt.

These, of course, are "pipe organ substitute" instruments with pedalboards - a somewhat different type of instrument to the real, foot blown and extremely expressive Harmonium.

Every Blessing

Tony

[Barrie Davis]

Hi

Many thanks for the information Tony, I wish I could remember more about the instrument I saw, but the church closed many years ago.

Best wishes

Barrie

[revtonynewnham]

Hi Barry

Most likely an Estey - but could have been something else.  Who knows?

Every Blessing

Tony

[David Pinnegar]

Hi!

The answer might be
http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,1418.msg6748/topicseen.html#msg6748
which from the photos on Facebook (I do wish the author would take the trouble to post details here as this instrument is potentially historic) is three manuals with a good disposition of stops.

Best wishes

David P