Book Organ

Unknown

19th Century · various materials · Musical Instruments

A book organ was a popular type of small organ that when folded up took the shape of a large book. Sometimes they were known as bible organs, due to the association of large pipe organs with churches. This instrument was built in the 19th century, though was constructed to look like much older instruments. Softwood case in form of a parchment bound book with metal latch securing cover; inside of cover a color print of monks performing music, rest of case interior painted salmon color; below cover in front is a parchment hinged keyboard, compass g1-f3 (no g#), with double scored light wood naturals and black accidentals; keys depress wire pins that open leather faced valves set between pin guides in the windchest; valves and keys returned by wire springs acting on the valves; behind the windchest, 22 stopped wood pipes seated horizontally in a toeboard on back of windchest or in offset toeboard extending back from left side of windchest; 1 pipe mitered; windways cut into block, not cap; cap decorated with molding at top front; behind keyboard, wind supplied by 3 fold bellows operated by wood handle at left side and behind bellows a reservoir (both leather covered) with conduit from right side of reservoir to windchest; windchest covered with blue and green floral design paper; pipes marked in ink with note letters.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th Century

Medium

various materials

Culture

European

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889