Bryant Park Studio Building - New York City
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Abraham Archibald Anderson Residence Studio

80 West 40th Street at Sixth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10036



Organ Specifications:
► II/24 Aeolian Company, Op. 901 (1901); rev. (1919)
► II/24 Aeolian Company, Op. 901 (1901); rev. (1912)
► II/21 Aeolian Company, Op. 901 (1901); rev. (1905)
► II/11 Aeolian Company, Op. 901 (1901)




Colonel Abraham (Abram) Archibald Anderson (1847-1940) was an artist, rancher, philanthropist and patron of aviation. One of ten children, he was born at the home of his maternal grandparents, Abraham and Sarah Ryerson, in Hackensack, N.J., but he spent most of his life in New York City and Paris.

Initially, he was a businessman but a career change launched a successful career as an artist. Anderson studied art in Paris with Bonnat, Cabanel, Cormon and Collin. He founded the American Art Association of Paris in 1890, was a member of the American Water Color Society, and won a gold medal at the Paris salon for his painting "Le Matin apres le Bal." His works are in the collections of the Smithsonian, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the San Joaquin Pioneer Museum and Haggin Art Galleries, Stockton, California. Anderson was a noted portrait painter and among his subjects were General O.O. Howard, General Morgan, H.B. Claflin, Thomas A. Edison, Bishop Cleveland Coxe, Elihu Root, and John Wanamaker. A major exhibition of 50 of his paintings was held in Richmond, Virginia, at the Anderson Galleries of the School of Social Work and Public Health, given by him to the College of William and Mary.

Anderson was also a patron of aviation in its early days. He obtained his pilot's license after World War I, and in 1930 was known as "Colonel Anderson, the Aviator."

A man of diverse interests and talents, Anderson became fascinated with the far west and developed a second home in Wyoming, "Palette Ranch" on the Grey Bull River, which was 180 miles from the nearest railroad. Anderson should be remembered for his early conservation efforts. His obituary states, "Moreover wild game was fleeing from the land until Col. Anderson, at the risk of his life, restored order to the range. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him first superintendent of the Yellowstone Forest Reserve after Col. Anderson cleaned out the Jackson Hole country, which he declared was filled with rustlers, convicts and desperados."

In 1887, Anderson married Elizabeth Milbank (1850-1921), daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Lake) Milbank. He and his wife were major philanthropists. Among their many charitable gifts, Mrs. Anderson gave $3 million to Barnard College in New York City. Their only child, Dr. Eleanor A. Campbell, founded the Judson Health Center in Greenwich Village.

Anderson's artistic interests continued throughout his life and he was working on a painting up until a week before his death at the age of 93. Appropriately, the funeral service took place at his studio on the top floor of the Bryant Park Studio Building that Anderson had built in 1901. Designed in conjunction with Lamb & Rich, the ten-story artists building enjoyed northern light from its location on the southeast corner of 40th Street and Sixth Avenue, across from Bryant Park. Today, artists are no longer to be found there.
         
  Aeolian Organ, Op. 901 (1901) in A.A. Anderson Studio - New York City
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 901 (1901); rev. (1919)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 24 ranks



The Aeolian Company was contracted (Nov. 20, 1919) to provide additions and alterations to the existing organ. Four manual stops were changed and all old flue and reed pipes were revoiced, regulated and tuned. The upper-boards of all windchests were removed, cleaned, and repacked with leather and rubbert cloth, and the bellows were releathered where necessary. All wiring was tested and put in perfect working order, and other machinery was cleaned and renovated. Aeolian also regulated the Harp, and installed new hammer tips for the Chimes so that the Chimes F and Chimes P would be effective. The work was to take about two months and cost $1,400.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes (61 note keyboard), enclosed
8
   Diapason
58
8
   Flute P * [rep. Saxophone]
58
8
   String PP
58
4
   Flute (high)
58
8
   String P *
58
8
   Trumpet
58
8
   String F *
58
8
   Clarinet
58
8
   Flute F
58
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   String F
58
8
   Flute P
58
8
   String F (vibrato) *
58
4
   Flute (high)
58
8
   String MF [old GT Stg. F]
58
8
   Trumpet
58
8
   String P (vibrato) [TC]
46
8
   Oboe
58
8
   String PP
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
               
Echo Organ (playable from Manual I or II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   String
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
8
   Flute
58
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Flute (deep) F
30
        
16
   Flute (deep) P
30
        
           
* new pipes (1919)
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Percussion Instruments
    Harp (playable from Manual I or II) (with loud and soft control)
    Chimes (playable from Manual I or II) (with loud and soft control)
               
Couplers
    Manual II to Manual I   Manual I Octave
    Manual II to Manual I Octaves   Manual I Sub Octaves
    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 }  
Reverse } Aeolienne Control, 116-note music
Unison }  
  Pedal Augment
      Aeolian Tempo
      Aeolian Ventil
    Control, 58-note music   Aeolian Reroll
               
Accessories
    Tonal Pedal   Tremolo Manual I (new tremolo)
    Expression Pedal Manual I   Tremolo Manual II
    Expression Pedal Manual II   Tremolo Echo Organ
    Expression Pedal Echo Organ    
         
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 901 (1901); rev. (1912)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 24 ranks


In 1912, the Aeolian Company added an Echo Organ having three stops that was located in a new room. New pipes were provided in the Swell Organ: a Flute (high) 4' in place of the Violina, a String F in place of Dolcissimo (which may have been reused in the Echo Organ if found desirable), and a Trumpet to replace the old Cornopean. Aeolian provided a complete new console in the old case that had manuals of 61 keys and a pedal keyboard of 30 keys. Extra top pipes were added for the two Pedal stops, but the manual ranks were not extended above the old compass of 58 notes. The console was fitted with stop tablets that were engraved with simplified nomenclature. Aeolian exchanged the old motor with a new one that was ½ HP larger. The Aeolian Company contract (Feb. 2, 1912) states that enlarged and altered organ was to be completed on or about August 1st, 1912, for a consideration of $3,500.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes (61 note keyboard), enclosed
8
   Diapason
58
4
   Flute (high)
58
8
   String F
58
8
   Trumpet
58
8
   String P
58
8
   Clarinet
58
8
   String PP
58
8
   Saxophone  
8
   Flute F
58
        
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   String F *
58
8
   Flute (Quintadena)
58
8
   String MF [revoiced]
58
4
   Flute (high) *
58
8
   String P
58
8
   Trumpet *
58
8
   String P (vibrato) [TC]
46
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Flute F
58
8
   Vox Humana
58
               
Echo Organ (playable from Manual I or II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   String *
58
8
   Vox Humana *
58
8
   Flute *
58
        
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Flute (deep) F
30
        
16
   Flute (deep) P
30
        
           
* new pipes (1912)
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Percussion Instruments
    Harp (playable from Manual I or II) (with loud and soft control)
    Chimes (playable from Manual I or II) (with loud and soft control)
               
Couplers
    Manual II to Manual I   Manual I Octave
    Manual II to Manual I Octaves   Manual I Sub Octaves
    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 }  
Reverse } Aeolienne Control, 116-note music
Unison }  
  Pedal Augment
      Aeolian Tempo
      Aeolian Ventil
    Control, 58-note music   Aeolian Reroll
               
Accessories
    Tonal Pedal   Tremolo Manual I (new tremolo)
    Expression Pedal Manual I   Tremolo Manual II
    Expression Pedal Manual II   Tremolo Echo Organ
    Expression Pedal Echo Organ    
         
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 901 (1901); rev. (1905)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 21 stops, 21 ranks


According to Rollin Smith's The Aeolian Pipe Organ and Its Music (Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998), two contracts were signed in 1905 for additions and alterations to the organ. The first (Jan. 27, 1905) was for the addition of six stops at a consideration of $2,250, plus a Dulciana for an additional $250. In March of the same year, another contract (Mar. 6, 1905) was for the addition of an Arpa Grande to the Great Organ and a Cornopean to the Swell Organ at a cost of $1,250. These two contracts have not yet been located, but the following specification, derived by comparing the stoplists from 1901 and 1912, suggests that a total of eleven stops were added.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique
58
8
   Gamba *
58
8
   Trumpet *
58
8
   Dolce Violin
58
8
   Clarinet *
58
8
   Dulciana *
58
8
   Saxophone *
58
8
   Gross Flute
58
     Arpa Grande *  
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason *
58
8
   Quintadena *
58
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
58
4
   Violina *
58
8
   Dolcissimo
58
8
   Cornopean *
58
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
46
8
   Oboe
58
8
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Vox Humana *
58
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Contra Basso
27
        
16
   Bourdon *
27
        
           
* new stops (1905)
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Accessories
    Tremulant   Great Organ Piano Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Tempo   Great Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Reroll   Great Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Melody Stop for bass and treble   Swell Organ Piano Comb. Piston
    Great Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Swell Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Pedal Organ to Aeolian   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Electric motor starter   Balanced Great and Swell Pedal
         
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 901 (1901)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 11 stops, 11 ranks


The Aeolian Company's specification (Jan. 14, 1901) indicates that this organ was to be installed in a chamber in the southeasterly corner of the room, with front pipes decorated in gold to fill both arches of the chamber. The console, finished in oak and containing the Aeolian player mechanism, was placed in the northeasterly corner of the studio. This organ was in fact built by the Hutchings-Votey Company of Boston but had an Aeolian nameplate. Total cost of the organ was $4,750.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
58
4
   Flute Harmonique, treble
37
8
   Dolce Violin
58
4
   Flute Harmonique, bass
21
8
   Grosse Flute, treble
37
8
   Corno d'Amour, treble *
37
8
   Grosse Flute, bass
21
8
   Corno d'Amour, bass
21
           
* on high pressure
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Viol d'Orchestre, treble
37
8
   Rohr Flöte
58
8
   Viol d'Orchestre, bass
21
8
   Orchestral Oboe, treble
37
8
   Dolcissimo
58
8
   Orchestral Oboe, bass
21
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
46
        
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Contra Bass
27
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
               
Accessories
    Tremulant   Great Organ Piano Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Tempo   Great Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Reroll   Great Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Melody Stop for bass and treble   Swell Organ Piano Comb. Piston
    Great Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Swell Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Pedal Organ to Aeolian   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Electric motor starter   Balanced Great and Swell Pedal
           
Sources:
     "Col. A. A. Anderson, Artist, 93, Is Dead," The New York Times (April 28, 1940): 40.
     Gillon, Edmond V. and Henry Hope Reed. Beaux-Arts Architecture in New York: A Photographic Guide. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1988.
     National Park Service web site: http://www.nps.gov/archive/edis/edisonia/articles/andersonarticle.htm
     The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society web site: http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and Its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract for Aeolian Organ, Op. 901 (1901).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract for Aeolian Organ, Op. 901 (1901); rev. 1912.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract for Aeolian Organ, Op. 901 (1901). rev. 1919.
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998.

Illustrations:
     "Views of Aeolian Pipe Organs," brochure published by the Aeolian Company. Interior showing Aeolian Company organ, Op. 901 (1905). Courtesy James Lewis.