Rocking Melodeon

Caleb Packard

ca. 1843 · Wood, various materials · Musical Instruments

The "rocking" melodeon or organ received this moniker because it had to be pumped up and down (the keyboard therefore rocking) in order to pump the bellows to sound the reeds. Technical description: Rectangular case of rosewood veneer above a diagonally-divided double bellows; removable top panel with paper label on front portion, keyboard along rear edge; compass G-g2, ivory naturals, ebony accidentals; brass free reeds beneath front portion of removable face panel, each reed with an incised roman numeral (I through VIII, repeated); reeds blown rather than sounded by suction; U-shaped reed holders set with ends pointing up; lower bellows leather separated from wooden frame, revealing the inside of the leather lined with newspaper dated June 5, 1843

Artist

Caleb Packard

Date

ca. 1843

Medium

Wood, various materials

Culture

American

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889