Walter Luttgen Residence

West End Avenue at 93rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10024

Organ Specifications:
West End Avenue at 93rd Street
► II/21 Aeolian Company, Op. 934 (1903)
51 West 75th Street
► I/8 Aeolian Company, Op. 861 (1898)


Walter Luttgen  

Walther (later Walter) Luttgen was born on January 9,1839 in Solingen, Germany, and emigrated as a child to the United States. He married Amelia Victoria Bremeyer of Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 23, 1866, and together they had one daughter. Luttgen's long and distinguished career with the international banking firm of August Belmont & Company began in November, 1859. Luttgen was initially hired as an office boy, but quickly climbed the ranks and became head of the firm's clerical force at the age of thirty. He was named a partner in 1880, a title he held until his death. In addition to his accomplishmed banking career, Luttgen was also appointed Director of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, the Transatlantic Trust Company and the Rapid Transit Construction Company.

Luttgen served as a Commodore of the Columbia Yacht Club, and was a member of the New York Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Downtown Association, the American Museum of Natural History and the Legal Aid Society.

For most of his adult life, Walther lived in Linden, New Jersey; Luttgen Place is named for him as he built an estate there. He build a paved road to his dock at Tremley where he kept a steam yacht, Linta, which he used for his commute to New York City. He loaned the steam yacht to the United States Navy during World War I. Assigned to the 3rd Naval District, New York, Linta served during World War I as a patrol and escort boat out of New York. After the Armistice, Linta was decommissioned on February 19, 1919, and was returned to Luttgen the same day.

Later in his life, Luttgen lived in New York City and had a country estate in Redding, Connecticut called "Villa Linta". He died of pneumonia at his New York City home on February 27, 1922, at the age of 84.

Mr. Luttgen owned four Aeolian organs: two for his home in Linden, N.J. (Op. 798, which was rebuilt as Op. 897), and two for his residences in New York (Op. 861, which was rebuilt as Op. 934).
           
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 934 (1903)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 27 ranks


The Aeolian Company's Op. 934 of 1903 was a rebuild of their Op. 861 built in 1898. The contracted price was $10,000.
               
Manual I – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Principale Grande
61
8
   Quintatoni
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
4
   Violetta
61
8
   Viol d'Amore
61
8
   Tromba
61
8
   Dolcino
61
8
   Saxophone
61
8
   Flauto Primo
61
     Tremolo  

     

     
Manual II – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bardone
61
4
   Flauto Minore
61
8
   Violoncello
61
8
   Oboe di Caccia
61
8
   Violino Primo
61
8
   Voce Umana
61
8
   Voce Angelica [TC]
49
     Campanetta  
8
   Viola Marina
61
     Tremolo  
8
   Flauto Lontano
61
        
               
Pedale Organ – 30 notes
16
   Violon
30
16
   Basso Minore
Man.II
16
   Contra Basso
30
        
               
Couplers
    Man. II to Man. I       Man. II to Pedale  
    Man. II to Man. I Ottava     Man. I to Pedale  

     

     
Accessories
    Four Combination Pistons affecting Manual I & Pedals
    Four Combination Pistons affecting Manual II & Pedals
         
Aeolienne
    Manual I to Aeolian  }   Aeolian Reroll
    Manual II to Aeolian } 58 note music   Aeolian Normal   } 116 note music
    Pedal to Aeolian      }      (Manual II, Solo; Manual I, Accomp.)
    Aeolian Ventil   Aeolian Reverse } 116 note music
    Aeolian Tempo      (Manual I, Solo; Manual II, Accomp.)
         
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Crescendo Pedal   Balanced Swell Pedal
           
Organ in residence at 51 West 75th Street:

Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 861 (1898)
Electro-pneumatic action
1 manual, 8 stops, 8 ranks


The Aeolian Company's Op. 861 was installed in 1898 at a cost of $3,480.
               
Manual – 58 notes, divided at tenor G# and A, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason, treble
37
8
   Doppel Flöte, treble
37
8
   Violin Diapason, bass
21
8
   Doppel Flöte, bass
21
8
   Viol d'Orchestre, treble
37
4
   Flute d'Amour, treble
37
8
   Viol d'Orchestre, bass
21
4
   Flute d'Amour, bass
21
8
   Dolcissimo, treble
37
8
   Saxophone, treble
37
8
   Dolcissimo, bass
21
8
   Saxophone, bass
21
8
   Unda Maris, treble
37
        
8
   Unda Maris, bass
21
        
               
Pedal – 30 notes
16
   Contra Bass
30
        
               
Accessories
    Manual to Pedal Coupler   Aeolian Return
    Manual Octave Coupler   Piano Combination Piston
    Tremulant   Mezzo Combination Piston
    Manual to Aeolian   Forte Combination Piston
    Pedal to Aeolian   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Aeolian Tempo   Balanced Swell Pedal
           
Sources:
     History of Redding, Conn. website: http://www.historyofredding.com
     Smith, Rollin. The Aeolian Pipe Organ and its Music. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1998. Specifications of "Style No. 243".
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Aeolian Organ, Op. 861 (1898).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Aeolian Organ, Op. 934 (1904).
     "Walter Luttgen Dies at 83," The New York Times, February 28, 1922.

Illustration:
     History of Redding, Conn. website: drawing of Walter Luttgen.