Arthur Williams, Thomas A. Edison, John W. Lieb, Nicholas F. Brady, and Thomas E. Murray in office of Mr. Murray (www.temurray.com)
  l to r: Arthur Williams, Thomas A. Edison,
John W. Lieb, Nicholas F. Brady,
and Thomas E. Murray in Murray's office.
Click on image to enlarge.
   
Thomas E. Murray Residence

783 St. Mark's Avenue
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11218






Thomas Edward Murray (1860-1929) was an inventor who held 1,100 U.S. patents (second only to Thomas Alva Edison) and was an electrical utility expert. Born in Albany, he established himself at an early age as an expert machinist, attracting the attention of Anthony N. Brady, who was entering the public utilities field. Brady put Murray in charge of the Municipal Gas Company of Albany, and Murray began to show signs of inventiveness. While still a young man, Mr. Murray was sent by Brady to New York to organize and purchase all of the electric franchises in New York and Brooklyn. The mergers he affected resulted in the Edison Electric Illuminating Company (later known as the Brooklyn Edison Company, Inc). In time, Mr. Murray was put in complete charge of all the allied Edison companies in New York, Brooklyn and Westchester County. Mr. Murray designed more electrical plants than any engineer in the country, and he won the Longstreth Medal of Merit for his numerous inventions of safety appliances. He also received a high commendation from the War Department for his invention of an electric welding process for the manufacture of 9.4 inch mortar shells. In November, 1928, he resigned due to ill health from the vice chairmanship of the New York Edison Company.

Mr. Murray was also active in religious work and took a prominent part in the affairs of the Catholic church. He was one of the few persons in the United States privileged to have mass celebrated in his own home, where he maintained an altar and reserved Host. Thomas E. Murray died in Southampton, N.Y. on July 21, 1929 at the age of 69. He had eight children, including Thomas E. Murray, Jr., who would become Commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.
               
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 1200 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 12 stops, 12 ranks


The Aeolian Company's Opus 1200 was originally built in 1911, and was installed in the 2nd Floor of Aeolian Hall, at 362 Fifth Avenue in New York City. On May 14, 1914, the organ was sold to Thomas E. Murray at a cost of $6,500, which included one year of maintenance. The two-manual detached console included an Aeolian Company's Patent "Solo" Music Roll mechanism, plus several preparations for future additions. At the time the organ was installed in the Murray residence, two additional stops – the Flute F and Clarinet – were added at a cost of $500 each. The organ was installed in a room under the stairway in the cellar, and the sound reached the Music Room via tone-chute.
               
Manual I – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Diapason
61
8
   Oboe
61
8
  String F
61
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   String F Vibrato [TC]
49
16
  
Flute Deep
preparation
8
   String P
61
8
   Flute F
61
8
   String PP
61
8
  
Flute P
preparation
4
   Flute High
61
    
String Mixture
preparation
8
   Trumpet
61
8
   Clarinet
61
               
Manual II – 61 notes, enclosed
Compounded from Manual I upon the Aeolian Patent Compound Windchest System.
8
  Diapason
—
8
   Oboe
—
8
   String F
—
8
   Vox Humana
—
8
  String F Vibrato [TC]
—
16
  
Flute Deep
preparation
8
   String P
—
8
   Flute F
—
8
   String PP
—
8
  
Flute P
preparation
4
   Flute High
—
    
String Mixture
preparation
8
   Trumpet
—
8
   Clarinet
—
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Flute Deep
30
16
  
Bassoon
preparation
16
  
Flute Deep P
preparation
       
               
Percussion Instruments
   
Harp (61 notes)
preparation
       
   
Chimes (20 notes)
preparation
       
               
Echo Organ – 61 notes
8
  
Flute
preparation
8
  
Vox Humana
preparation
8
  
String
preparation
       
               
Couplers
    Manual II to Manual I     Manual I Octaves
    Manual II Octaves to Manual I     Manual I Suboctaves
    Manual II Octaves     Manual I Unison Release
    Manual II Sub Octaves     Manual I to Pedal
    Manual II to Pedal     Manual I to Pedal Octaves
    Manual II Unison Release     Echo to Manual I
          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 Augment
    ( Reverse )   Aeolienne Control, 116-note Music   Aeolian Ventil
    ( Unison   )       Aeolian Tempo
    Control, 58-note Music   Aeolian Reroll
               
Accessories
    Tonal Pedal     Tremolo, Manual I
    Expression Pedal     Tremolo, Manual II
    Expression Pedal, Echo Organ     Tremolo, Echo Organ
               
Sources:
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     "T.E. Murray Dies; Famous Inventor," The New York Times (July 22, 1929).
     "T.E. Murray Estate Put at $10,044,070," The New York Times (Nov. 24, 1932).
     Thomas E. Murray, Inventor web site: http://www.temurray.com
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for Aeolian Organ, Op. 1200 (1914).

Illustration:
     Thomas E. Murray, Inventor web site. Photo in Mr. Murray's office.