Congregation Beth Elohim - Brooklyn, N.Y. (c.1917)
 
Click on images to enlarge
Congregation Beth Elohim

274 Garfield Place at Eighth Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215
http://www.congregationbethelohim.org/
Organ Specifications:
274 Garfield Place at Eighth Avenue (since 1909)
• III/10 Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1929) – Ballroom
► II/9 Midmer-Losh Organ Company (1929) – Chapel
► III/27 Reuben Midmer & Sons (1913) – Sanctuary
State Street, between Smith and Hoyt (1885-1909)
► II/23 Reuben Midmer & Sons (c.1885)
• George Jardine & Son (1866)
Pearl Street, between Nassau and Concord (1862-1885)
• unknown

           
  Console of Midmer-Losh Organ (1929) in Community Building of Congregation Beth Elohim - Brooklyn, N.Y. (credit: AJWB Collection)
Organ in Temple House Ballroom:

Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, N.Y. (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 10 ranks


Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Organ in Temple House Chapel:

Midmer-Losh Organ Company
Merrick, N.Y. (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 16 registers, 9 stops, 9 ranks
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, partially enclosed with Swell
8
   Open Diapason *
61
4
   Flute
SW
8
   Gedeckt
SW
     Tremulant  
8
   Dulciana
61
     Chimes  
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
2 2/3
  Nazard
—
8
   Gedeckt
97
2
   Piccolo
—
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Voix Celeste
61
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Flute
—
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon *
44
8
   Flute (fr. 16' Bourdon) *
—
16
   Gedeckt (ext. SW)
12
    
* unenclosed
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal       Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'
    Great to Pedal       Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
           
  Reuben Midmer & Sons Organ in Congregation Beth Elohim - Brooklyn, NY
Organ in Sanctuary:

Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (1913)
Tubular-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 29 registers, 27 stops, 27 ranks
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Octave
61
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Wald Flute
61
8
   Doppel Flute
61
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Viola di Gamba
61
        
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
73
4
  Flute Harmonic
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Stop'd Diapason
73
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Aeoline
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Vox Celeste (TC)
61
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
73
4
  Fugara
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
4
  Flute d'Amour
73
8
   Dulciana
73
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Quintadena
73
8
   Oboe
73
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason
44
16
   Lieblich Gedacht
SW
16
   Bourdon
44
8
   Flute (fr. 16' OD)
—
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'     Choir to Great 16', 8'
    Swell to Pedal 8'     Swell to Choir 8'
    Choir to Pedal 8'     Great to Great 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'     Swell to Swell 16', 4', Unison Off
               
Accessories
    Great to Pedal Reversible      
    Sforzando      
    Harp      
         

Organ in synagogue on State Street:

Reuben Midmer & Sons
Brooklyn, N.Y. (c.1885)
Mechanical action
2 manuals, 20 stops, 23 ranks


The following specification is from the files of Louis F. Mohr & Co., an organ service concern in the area.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason
58
2 2/3
  Twelfth
58
8
   Dulciana
58
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Doppel Flute
58
  Sesquialtera II ranks
116
8
   Philomela
58
8
   Clarinet
58
4
   Octave
58
8
   Trumpet
58
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
58
4
  Violana
58
8
   Open Diapason
58
  Cornet III ranks
174
8
   Gamba (TC)
46
8
   Cornopean
58
8
   Stopped Diapason Bass
12
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Stopped Diapason Treble (TC)
46
        
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Double Open Diapason
27
   
16
   Bourdon
27
   
               
Couplers ("Three couplers")
    Great to Pedal     Swell to Great
    Swell to Pedal      
               
Accessories
    Four Combinations [2 GT, 2 SW]   Tremolo  
    Balance Swell   Electric Motor  
           
Organ in former State Street Congregational Church:

George Jardine & Son
New York City (1866)
Mechanical action


It may be that this organ was sold or removed when State Street Congregational left the building in 1875. Congregational Beth Elohim did not acquire the building until 1885. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     Congregation Beth Elohim web site: http://www.congregationbethelohim.org/
     Danziger, Stephen. Specification of Reuben Midmer & Son organ (1913) in Sanctuary, and Midmer-Losh Organ (1929) in Chapel.
     "Midmer Pipe Organs." Brooklyn: Reuben Midmer & Sons, Inc., c.1917. Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Mohr, Louis F. & Co. Specification of Reuben Midmer & Sons organ (c.1885) in State Street Sanctuary. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
     Trupiano, Larry. Electronic correspondence (Dec. 15, 2013) concerning Reuben Midmer & Son organ (1913) in the Sanctuary.

Illustrations:
     AJWB Collection: Console of Midmer-Losh organ (1929) in Community Building.
     Brooklyn Collection, Brooklyn Public Library: Brooklyn Eagle Post Card (1951) of Beth Elohim on Garfield Place.
     Congregation Beth Elohim web site: Sanctuary interior; Temple House.
     "Midmer Pipe Organs." Façade of Reuben Midmer & Sons organ (<1916).

| NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |