Los Angeles Art Organ Company

353 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street
New York, N.Y. 10016



The Los Angeles Art Organ Company was organized on January 7, 1904, succeeding the Murray M. Harris Organ Co. of Los Angeles. Murray M. Harris was best known for building the large organ at the 1904 World's Fair, held in St. Louis, that became the nucleus of the Grand Organ at the John Wanamaker Store in Philadelphia.

In 1905, the company relocated to Hoboken, N.J., with offices and a showroom on Fifth Avenue, directly across the street from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. During the next year, in 1906, the company was reorganized as the Electrolian Organ Company, but went bankrupt shortly thereafter.
             
  Showroom Organ - Los Angeles Art Organ Company - New York City
  Click on image to enlarge
Los Angeles Art Organ Company
Hoboken, N.J. (1905)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 22 stops, 19 ranks


This organ, erected in the company offices at 353 Fifth Avenue, employed an electro-pneumatic action developed by William B. Fleming.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason  
8
   Dulciana  
8
 
Concert Flute
 
4
   Gemshorn  
8
 
Viol da Gamba
 
8
   Clarinet  
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
 
Bourdon
  
8
  Lieblich Gedeckt  
8
 
Violin Diapason
 
4
  Salicet  
8
 
Echo Salicional
  
4
   Flauto Traverso  
8
   Dolce  
8
   Harmonic Trumpet  
8
   Unda Maris  
8
   Oboe  
8
   Viol d'Orchestre       Tremulant  
8
   Viol Celeste          
 
     
 
     
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
 
Bourdon
42
8
   Flute
—
16
 
Lieblich Bourdon
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal   Swell octave to Great
    Great to Pedal   Swell Sub octave to Great
    Swell to Great    
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Six Combination Pedals
    Balanced Great Pedal    
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
             
Sources:
     Fox, David H. A Guide to North American Organbuilders (Rev. ed.). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
     The New Music Review (December 1905, Vol. 5: 547). Specification of Los Angeles Art Organ Co. organ (1905). Courtesy James Lewis.
     Smith, David Lennox, ed. by Orpha Ochse. Murray M. Harris and Organ Building in Los Angeles, 1894–1913. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 2005.

Illustration:
     Showroom organ (1905). Courtesy James Lewis.