Edward W. Sheldon Residence

15 West 38th Street
New York, N.Y. 10018

Organ Specifications:
► II/27 Aeolian Company, Op. 944 (1903)
► II/11 Aeolian Company, Op. 860 (1898)


Edward Wright Sheldon was born in Plainfield, N.J. on December 17, 1858, the son of the Rev. George Sheldon and Martha Lyman Sheldon. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Princeton University and graduated from the Columbia University School of Law in 1881. After law school, he organized the firm Sheldon & Stewart, and served as attorney for many corporations, notably the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the United States Trust Company, the latter of which he became Chairman of the board in 1906 and served for a quarter century. In addition to banking, he participated in the management of several major philanthropic, educational and health institutions, and was instrumental in the merger of New York Hospital and Cornell Medical College, made possible through the generosity of Payne Whitney. Edward Sheldon also served as treasurer of Bishop Manning's local committee for the completion of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Mr. Sheldon died at the age of 76 in 1934 at his 46 Park Avenue home. A lifelong bachelor, his only surviving relatives were six nieces and nephews, including Edward Sheldon, the well-known playwright. Bishop Manning officiated at Mr. Sheldon's funeral, which was held at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue.
           
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 944 (1904)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 24 stops, 27 ranks


The Aeolian Company's Op. 944 of 1904 was a rebuild of their Op. 860 built in 1898. The contracted price was $7,500.
               
Manual I – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Principale Grande
61
4
   Ottava *
61
8
   Viola Pomposa
61
4
   Flauto Minore
61
8
   Viola Marina *
61
8
   Saxophone
61
8
   Quintatoni
61
8
   Tromba *
61
8
   Flauto Primo *
61
8
   Corno de Bassetto
61

     

     
Manual II – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bardone
61
4
   Violino
61
8
   Principale Minore *
61
4
   Flauto Dolce
61
8
   Violino Primo *
61
  Seraphieno (5 ranks)
275
8
   Voce Angelica * [TC]
49
8
   Oboe di Caccia *
61
8
   Viol d'Amore
61
8
   Voce Umana
61
8
   Flauto Lontano *
61
  Tremolo
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes
16
   Contra Basso *
30
8
   Flauto Grande
30
16
   Basso Minore
Man.II
        
           
* stops from previous organ
Couplers
    Man. II to Man. I       Man. II to Pedal  
    Man. II to Man. I Octaves     Man. I to Pedal  

     

     
Accessories
    Tremulant   Great Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Great Organ to Aeolian   Great Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Swell Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Piano Comb. Piston
    Pedal Organ to Aeolian   Swell Organ Mezzo Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Tempo   Swell Organ Forte Comb. Piston
    Aeolian Return   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Great Organ Piano Comb. Piston   Balanced Choir and Swell Pedal
           
 
Aeolian Company
New York City – Opus 860 (1898)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 11 stops, 11 ranks


In a contract dated September 9, 1898, the Aeolian Company agreed to install a "Style 243" organ in Edward W. Sheldon's residence at 15 West 38th Street. The organ, which cost $4,800, had eleven ranks of pipes and an Aeolienne player. In 1903, Aeolian added a 116-note player. This organ was rebuilt as Op. 944 in 1904.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
58
4
   Flute d'Amour
58
8
   Dolcissimo
58
8
   Trumpet
58
8
   Melodia
58
   

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 58 notes, enclosed
8
   Salicional
58
4
   Violina
58
8
   Unda Maris [TC]
46
8
   Orchestral Oboe
58
8
   Rohr Floete
58
   
               
Pedal Organ – 27 notes
16
   Contra Bass
27
        
               
Couplers
    Swell to Great       Swell to Pedal  
    Swell to Great Octaves       Great to Pedal  
           
Sources:
     Aeolian Company brochure. Specifications and photo of Aeolian Organ, Op. 860 (1903) in Edward W. Sheldon Residence, New York City. Courtesy James Lewis.
     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. 944 (1904).

Illustration:
     Aeolian Company brochure: Aeolian Organ, Op. 944 (1903) in Edward W. Sheldon Residence, New York City. Courtesy James Lewis.