1920s Gladstone Reed Organ

[mpscholle]

In a previous post, we had asked the forums if they have ever scene a Gladstone Pump Organ. (Linked)
Since then, my son and I worked most of the summer and fall restoring the organ. We still have a little work left, but its back up working and being enjoyed on a regular basis.

We did make the following determinations:

1. This is not the only one of its kind, there is another in Arizona in the same model.
2. It was built in the 1920's (we found a date on the inside)

Here is what we did,

• Disassembled and cleaned all parts
• Sanded most of the external parts, the finish was in very bad shape
• Tightened up the structure
• Repaired and replaced treadle covers/gips
• Removed squeaks
• Panted (Black, Sherwin Williams Enamel)
• Sonic Cleaned and Polished all brass parts
• Cleaned grill cloth
• Replaced key felt and added felt where needed

Listen here:

Here are some photos of what it looks like now.

[Valiant Farmer]

Good work with that organ! Interesting it is 5 octaves C-scale, most are F-scale (unless they had a pedal board). How many ranks of reeds are there? I would suggest that Gladstone may have been an importer. Some importers re-branded organs. Joshua

[mpscholle]

Thank you for commenting! It is the only reed organ that I have ever seen that is a C-scale. I personally don't think that it looks American, but it is a suction instrument so maybe it is American! Who knows...

It only has one rank of reeds, but it has a wonderful and full sound. The re-branding idea is certainly an interesting thought. In that case, I wonder who originally manufactured it?

[Valiant Farmer]

The slots above the keyboard look sort of like what Sherlock Manning used, see first link, they built organs into the 1950's. The second link has a photo a little ways down of my 2 manual pedal Bell reed organ, and it is a C-scale instrument.
By the way, the term "American Organ" purely means that it is a suction organ. "American" organs have been built in America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, England etc. The French built instruments were mostly pressure organs. I may be wrong here, but that is my observation!

https://www.reedsoc.org/index.php/ro...enu=0&ID=12147
https://organforum.com/forums/forum/...ing#post727655

Hope this is helpful!
Joshua