The Art Organ Company

353 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016
Organ Specifications:
• II/6 Art Organ Company (1906)
► II/26 Art Organ Company (1905) – "Orgue de Salon"


The Art Organ Company was organized in the early 1900s by organ architect George A. Audsley and J. Burr Tiffany, who set out to provide "artistic" organs suitable for residences. Audsley designed the organs that were built by Philipp Wirsching of Salem, Ohio. Tiffany designed the elaborate case work. The company's offices were located in Steinway Hall.
           
  Art Organ Company Organ (1906) in Art Salon of Steinway Hall - New York City (August Patzig)
The Art Organ Company
Hoboken, N.J. (1906)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 6 ranks





In 1906, a two-manual demonstration organ was built for the showroom in Steinway Hall. This organ had duplex action and included a player above the Swell manual. All of the pipes were in a single enclosure that was fronted by an elaborately carved frame containing a simple pipe fence.

Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
  Art Organ Company Organ (1905) in Art Salon of Steinway Hall - New York City (Music Trade Review)
  Organ installed in Steinway Hall
 
  Organ as installed in Hallenbeck Residence
The Art Organ Company
Hoboken, N.J. (1905)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 46 stops, 26 ranks



In 1905, the Art Organ Company conceived an Orgue de Salon — a chamber instrument in construction, arrangement and voicing — that was suitable for private houses. This organ was exhibited in the art salon of Steinway Hall, and demonstrated in a series of recitals given by Gustave Frese, assisted by his brother, Rudolf Frese, who presided at the piano.

Construction of the organ was contracted to Philipp Wirsching of Salem, Ohio, who provided an organ with tubular-pneumatic action in which Manuals I and II were duplexed. The pipes were voiced by John W. Whitely, of London, England; Mr. Whitely had previously voiced the great organ at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, and was retained by the Art Organ Co. to devote his entire time to the voicing of their instruments. The organ was contained in two expression boxes and was playable from an attached two-manual console or by an "Organola" automatic roll player.

J. Burr Tiffany, president of the Art Organ Company, designed the five-section Louis XV-style case as an elaborate work of art. "While extremely ornate, and entirely covered with gold leaf, the dull finish imparted does away with any appearance of gaudiness, while the burnished block tin pipes give a color toning that is very pleasing to the artisitc eye."

The organ was sold in 1907 to H. C. Hallenbeck, Montclair, N.J.
               
Manual I – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bordone Dolce  
4
   Ottava  
8
  Principale Maggiore [unenc.]  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
  Principale Minore  
4
   Violetta  
8
  Flauto Doppio  
2
  Piccolo  
8
  Principale Dolce  
  Ripieno V ranks  
8
  Viola Pomposa [unenc.]  
16
   Contrafagotto  
8
   Violoncello  
8
   Tromba Real  
8
   Violino  
8
   Oboe  
8
   Violo d'Amore  
8
   Clarinetto  
8
   Vox Angelica  
8
   Corno Dulce  
 
     
 
     
Manual II – 61 notes, enclosed (duplexed from Manual I)
16
   Bordone Dolce  
4
   Ottava  
8
  Principale Maggiore [unenc.]  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
  Principale Minore  
4
   Violetta  
8
  Flauto Doppio  
2
  Piccolo  
8
  Principale Dolce  
  Ripieno V ranks  
8
  Viola Pomposa [unenc.]  
16
   Contrafagotto  
8
   Violoncello  
8
   Tromba Real  
8
   Violino  
8
   Oboe  
8
   Violo d'Amore  
8
   Clarinetto  
8
   Vox Angelica  
8
   Corno Dulce  
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
 
Principale Grande
30
8
   Flauto Aperto
—
16
 
Principale Dolce
42
8
   Dolce
—
16
   Bordone Dolce
MAN
16
   Contrafagotto
MAN
               
Couplers
    Manual I to Pedal 8', 4'   Pedal Release
    Manual I to Manual II 16', 8', 4'   Manual I Unison Release
    Manual I 16', 4'   Manual II Unison Release
    Manual II 16', 4'    
               
Adjustable Combinations (pistons located above stop jambs)
    Four pistons affecting Manual I stops    
    Four pistons affecting Manual II stops    
    Blind General pistons under Manual I      
               
Mechanicals
    Tremolo I       Man. I to Pedal 8' Reversible
    Tremolo II       Man. I to Pedal 4' Reversible
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal – Expression I    
    Balanced Swell Pedal – Expression II    
    Crescendo Pedal    
             
Sources:
     "The Art Organ Co.'s Orgue de Salon Exhibited at Steinway Hall," The Music Trade Review (Oct. 14, 1905, XXL:16:16-17). Courtesy James Lewis.
     Fox, David H. A Guide to North American Organbuilders (Rev. ed.). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     "The Art Organ Co.'s Orgue de Salon Exhibited at Steinway Hall," The Music Trade Review (Oct. 14, 1905, XXL:16:16-17). Courtesy James Lewis.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Ochse, Orpha. The History of the Organ in the United States. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975.

Photos:
     Lewis, James. Art Organ Co. Organ (1905) in H. C. Hallenbeck Residence, Montclair, N.J. (1907).
     The Music Trade Review (Oct. 14, 1905, XXL:16:16-17): Art Organ Co. Organ (1905) in Steinway Hall.
     Patzig, August (Jersey City, NJ). Photo of "small organ in Art Room of Steinway & Sons, N.Y. City." Courtesy Larry Trupiano.