A significant exhibit in the Society’s Local History Museum is an organ used from 1871 by the Waldau Lutheran Church and later by Trinity Lutheran Church, Doncaster at Sunday services for more than 100 years.
This was donated to the Society by Trinity Lutheran Church in 1980 and has been on displayed in the School Room of Schramm’s Cottage.
As is well-known Max von Schramm was the Pastor at these churches from 1876 until his death in 1908.
This organ with the Serial No. 82937, sometime known as a Reed Organ, Blow Organ or Harmonium Organ, was made in 1870 by the Smith American Organ Company of Boston, USA. This company was established by S.D. Smith and H.W. Smith as early as 1852. In the early 1880’s the firm started building pianos and changed its name to The Smith American Organ & Piano Company and by the 1890’s it was known as the Smith American Piano Company. It ceased business prior to the Great Depression of the 1920’s. The company patent the organ coupler on 3rd January 1865. This is the device connecting organ keys on an octave apart so that both notes sound by one key. The organ has a five octave keyboard with 10 stops above, two large foot pedals to pump the air, and a hinged folding and sliding wooden keyboard cover. A hinged lid opens and the folding music desk slide out onto the open keyboard cover. The keys are of ivory and the timber was originally highly French polished. The maker’s name Smith American Organ Company is painted in gold above the keyboard on each side of the stops.
This organ has great local historical significance right up to the present day.
In 2012 the Society investigated getting it fully restored as it was not in full working order. Several piano restoration companies were invited to give a quotation. Eventually the proprietor of the Darnum Musical Village, Albert H. Fox showed great interest, visited Schramm’s Cottage during October 2012 and presented a quotation to restore this organ into good working order, excluding restoration of the polished woodwork. The quotation was accepted financed by the then annual allowance provided to the Society by the Manningham City Council. Mr. Fox collected the organ on 26th November 2012, transported it to his workshop in Darnum and restored it. The bellows were recovered, pedal straps renewed, reeds replaced, thoroughly cleaned inside and a new music desk fitted. The organ was delivered back to Schramm’s Cottage on 11th February 2013.
Immediately after the organ was returned our team of members undertook to restore the external surface of the timber with “Restor-A-Finish” in dark walnut tone with super fine steel wool. After allowing to dry the timber casing was polished with a dry cloth.
The organ now looked and played as a new instrument. During the Society’s annual Garden Party held on Saturday 16th February 2013, our President Eric Collyer and our guest Albert Fox each gave a short recital on the organ to the delight of the 99 members and guests present.
The organ has since been played at several functions held in the grounds of Schramm’s Cottage. One special event was in 2014 for the re-enactment of the wedding of Max Schramm and Kate Pickering to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their wedding. Eric Collyer played the Wedding March by Mendelssohn on the organ adding to the special atmosphere enjoyed by the 200 members and visitors present.
The Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society is proud to have this historic organ in the museum collection as it is an example of how past history still plays an important part in our community today.
John Boylett writing in the 2018-09 DTHS Newsletter
No comments:
Post a Comment