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2 East 70th Street
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Dr. Robert S. Bickley Residence
885 Fifth Avenue at 70th Street
(2 East 70th Street)
New York, N.Y. 10021
Dr. Robert S. Bickley was a noted surgeon in New York City who was on the staff of the Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospitals. One of four brothers, all of whom were medical doctors, he graduated from the University of Chicago and, in 1907, from the New York Homepathic Medical College. Dr. Bickley was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Association, New York Academy of Medicine, Union League Club, New York Athletic Club and the Campfire Clubs of America.
Dr. Bickley, his wife Georgia, and their daughter Georgia-Bell, lived in a duplex penthouse at 885 Fifth Avenue, which is the alternative address for 2 East 70th Street. Designed by Rosario Candela and Walker & Gillette, the 13-story apartment house was built by Anthony Campagna and completed in 1928. The building is directly across East 70th Street from the Frick Collection. In 1929, Dr. Bickley purchased four suites of apartments at 75 Central Park West and created a medical suite on the ground and second floors. Apparently, he later moved his residence to the same Central Park West building, as he died there of a heart attack at the age of 75 on December 26, 1957. |
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Skinner Organ Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 731 (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 40 stops, 13 ranks, 865 pipes
Player attachment
This two-manual Skinner organ was installed in Dr. Bickley's duplex penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue. The image at the right is a working drawing by the Tiffany Studios of the Bickleys' Drawing Room; it was probably used as an example to show prospective clients. The large tapestry on the left wall may have concealed the opening from the Skinner organ. |
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Manual I – 61 notes
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Expression I |
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Expression II |
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8 |
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Orchestral Flute [unit] |
73 |
16 |
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Bourdon [unit] |
97 |
4 |
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Flute |
— |
8 |
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Chimney Flute |
— |
8 |
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Flute Celeste II ranks |
110 |
4 |
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Flute |
— |
8 |
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Voix Celeste II ranks |
122 |
2 2/3 |
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Nazard |
— |
8 |
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Diapason |
61 |
2 |
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Piccolo |
— |
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Harp |
— |
8 |
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French Horn |
61 |
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8 |
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Vox Humana |
61 |
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8 |
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Clarinet |
61 |
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8 |
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English Horn |
61 |
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8 |
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Cello |
61 |
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8 |
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Trumpet [unit] |
73 |
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4 |
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Clarion |
— |
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Tremolo [entire organ] |
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Manual II – 61 notes
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Duplexed from Manual I |
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Pedal – 32 notes
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16 |
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Bourdon (Exp. I) [ext.] |
12 |
16 |
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Trombone (Exp. II) [ext.] |
12 |
16 |
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Echo Lieblich (Exp. II) |
— |
8 |
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Tromba (Exp. II) |
— |
8 |
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Gedeckt (Exp. I) |
— |
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Tympani |
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8 |
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Still Gedeckt (Exp. II) |
— |
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Sources:
Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://home.cfl.rr.com/aeolianskinner/
Alpern, Andrew. The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter. New York: Acanthus Press, 2001.
"Buys in West Side House," The New York Times (Aug. 14, 1929).
Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Revised Edition). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.
Murphy Auctions web site: http://www.morphyauctions.com/tiffany.html
Obituary: Dr. Robert S. Bickley. The New York Times (Dec. 28, 1957).
Trupiano, Larry. Manual Chest Order for Skinner Organ, Op. 731 (1929).
"West Side Cooperative," The New York Times (July 1, 1929).
Illustrations:
Joseph Candela Collection. Drawing of 2 East 70th Street.
Murphy Auctions web site. Tiffany Studios drawing of Bickley Drawing Room. |
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