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Two years ago we purchased a beautiful pump organ which was to fill the void I felt after we sold our grand piano. I never thought we’d ever part with that piano, but at that time we were serious about selling our 'Taco Bell' house (as some have called it...) and moving westward to be closer to our children. We did not want to ship the large instrument that had already been around the world a couple times (purchased in New Hampshire, from there to Boston to Schenectady NY to Hong Kong to Saudi Arabia to Dubai to Tokyo to Utah to North Carolina in one house and then to this present one). But as fate would have it, we stayed in North Carolina. And the emptiness without an instrument like our Kawai grand was almost more than I could bear. So, several years after the exodus of the piano, my husband bought this glorious instrument—that does not make a sound, yet.
This beauty is over 100 years old and can still evoke admiration and nostalgia. It has been on a wild adventure. Built by The Fort Wayne Organ Company, in Chicago, most likely during the transition of the company from the Fort Wayne Organ Company to The Packard Company, which would put the date somewhere around the turn of the century, i.e., 1900. The organ was purchased by a Presbyterian church in Aberdeen, Scotland, and graced the small church there until the 1970s when the church was remodeled. At that time, the organ was purchased by Americans who moved it to Belgium. In 1984 it changed hands again and became the property of an American expatriot family, still in Belgium. The travels continued to Summit, New Jersey, and then into storage in Salt Lake City for several years, and finally, to Pinehurst, where we purchased it. The ‘expariot’ organ has finally found its permanent home!
I collected some cursory information of the The Packard Organ Company and its history.
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| Packard Organ and salesmen in 1890s |
Organs 1898-1914
“This time period marks the beginning of the end of organ production by the Packard Company. In 1899, the company name had changed from The Fort Wayne Organ Company to The Packard Company. Also, the emphasis began to be placed on piano production, and the company was focused on the piano part of the business.
“Organ production ceased by the end of 1914, and the company name was changed from The Packard Company to The Packard Piano Company, ushering in a new year and a new era in 1915.”
“Organ production ceased by the end of 1914, and the company name was changed from The Packard Company to The Packard Piano Company, ushering in a new year and a new era in 1915.”
I can’t believe the disrespect we demonstrated by keeping this treasure in our garage for two years! Well seasoned now, I surmise!
Looking at other Packard organs, it is easy to see that ours is missing some decorative elements, namely the upper corners of the cabinet. The straight lines were a dead give-away that something was missing, and now we know what it might have been. There are only two screw holes on the two ends, which suggets that there was a decorative piece that went all the way across the top of the case.
The keys are in excellent condition for such an old keyboard, with no cracks and minimal yellowing, all good features. The cabinet has a few problem spots— nothing that some TLC could not fix. The biggest problem is that the bellows are not operable by the pedals, so that has to be fixed by an expert. So, so far, it is a "dumb organ"...
The drawers of the console are like time capsules, telling of times gone by and individuals who were real, singing, playing and studying the Scriptures. What a rich heritage just in a few pictures!Many musical scores were found, these handwritten, possibly original compositions:
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| Daniel was a Praying Man; Lord, Send Me; Be Not Afraid Stops to be used |
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| Old Testament study outline; Biblical map |
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| Enrollment, activity and attendance notes |
Some notable details:
So here she is, still on the rug that was used to facilitate the move inside:
So here she is, still on the rug that was used to facilitate the move inside:
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I have fond memories of playing a pump organ as I was getting into music. We did not have one; a friend's father was the principal of a small school where they had such an organ, and I was permitted to play it to my heart's content!
You can hear a Packard pump organ being played here:
(Clearly, we did not buy it for the sound...)
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