Walter E. Bedell Residence

365 Clinton Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238




Walter Ellwood Bedell was a Trustee of Kings County Trust Company in Brooklyn. In February 1909, he became a director of the Francis Realty Company of Brooklyn. The Bedell family had residences on Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn, and in Bay Shore, L.I.
               
  Arthur Williams, Thomas A. Edison, John W. Lieb, Nicholas F. Brady, and Thomas E. Murray in office of Mr. Murray (www.temurray.com)
  Click on image to enlarge.
   
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 1086 (1909, 1910)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 28 stops, 18 ranks


This Aeolian organ for W.E. Bedell was built in 1909 and originally had 21 stops and 11 ranks. Its pipes were installed in a chamber at the head of the stairs on the second floor, while the two-manual console containing the Aeolian player mechanism was located in front of the fireplace in the library on the first floor. According to the Aeolian Contract (Jan. 9, 1909), the organ would be completed on or about April 14, 1909; in fact, the organ was shipped on March 26.

This organ was enlarged by Aeolian (Contract: Nov. 18, 1910) with the addition of an enclosed "Echo and Antiphonal Department" consisting of seven ranks, plus expression pedal, couplers and accessories. The fate of this organ is unknown.
               
Manual I – 61 notes, enclosed (4" pressure)
8
  Diapason
61
8
   Flute
61
8
  String F
61
4
   Flute (high)
61
8
   String P
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   String P Vibrato [TC]
49
8
   Oboe
61
8
   String PP
61
8
   Trumpet
61
               
Manual II – 61 notes (Duplication of Manual I)
8
  Diapason
—
8
   Flute
—
8
  String F
—
4
   Flute (high)
—
8
   String P
—
8
   Vox Humana
—
8
   String P Vibrato [TC]
—
8
   Oboe
—
8
   String PP
—
8
   Trumpet
—
               
Echo and Antiphonal Organ – 61 notes, enclosed [added 1910]
8
   Flute F
61
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Flute P
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Flute Quintadena
61
        
4
   Flute (high)
61
16
   Pedal Bassoon (deep)
30
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Flute (deep)
30
        
               
Percussion Instruments (Playable from either Manuals I or II)
8
  
Harp (Augmented)
61 notes
       
8
  
Chimes
20 notes
       
               
               
Couplers
    Manual II to Manual I     Manual I Octaves
    Manual II to Manual I Octaves     Manual I Suboctaves
    Manual II Octaves     Manual I Unison Release
    Manual II Sub Octaves     Manual I to Pedal
    Manual II to Pedal     Echo to Manual I
    Manual II Unison Release     Echo to Manual II
               
Combination Pistons
    Manual I Forte     Manual II Forte
    Manual I Mezzo     Manual II Mezzo
    Manual I Piano     Manual II Piano
    Manual I Release     Manual II Release
               
Aeolienne
    ( Normal   )       Pedal Release
    ( Reverse )   Aeolienne Control, 116-note Music   Aeolian Tempo
    ( Unison   )       Aeolian Ventil
    Control, 58-note Music   Aeolian Reroll
               
Accessories
    Tonal Pedal     Tremolo
    Expression Pedal     Tremolo, Echo Organ
    Expression Pedal, Echo Organ      
               
Sources:
     Brooklyn Blue Book and Long Island Social Register. Brooklyn: Rugby Press, Inc., 1922.
     "Brooklyn Corporations," The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Feb. 10, 1909).
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for Aeolian Organ, Op. 1086 (1909).

Illustration:
     Trupiano, Larry. Interior of Bedell Residence, showing Aeolian Organ, Oop. 1086 (1909).