List of Reed

Organs

¨ John Holt  — This giant was made in Birmingham, England, in 1926.  It has 3 manuals, and a full-pedal board.  (See photo on first page of this website.)  We purchased this organ from George Deans, an organ builder in Ashhurst.  It had formerly belonged to a prominent New Zealand organist.  George purchased it from his widow.

¨ Cornish Company organ — made in New Jersey, U.S.A.  We bought this one from George Deans also, who had taken it in and done some work on it. It is a medium-sized Chapel organ.

¨ Sherlock Manning organ, London, Canada. — This lovely organ was donated to us by Rae Scammell, widow of a Methodist Minister in Fielding.   See Photo

¨ Small Folding organ (probably a Billhorn, but no name on it) — We purchased this lovely little organ from Mrs. Shiela Hodgson of Te Puke.  It was used in a tent mission run by Pr. Stan Leeder, about 1938, and was loaned to him by Shiela’s mother, Mrs. Lena Schofield.  Pastor Leeder was the one who anointed Milton when he was healed of polio in 1948, so this organ is very special to us.  (See Photo)

¨ Estey – Vermont,  U.S.A. — From Tumu Timbers in Dannevirke.   See Photo

¨ Arthur Spencer, Manchester, England — Lovely blond oak two-manual, full-pedal organ, run by an electric blower.  Used till recently in a church in Paekakariki, and was given to George Deans when the church bought a new organ from him.  Arthur Bryant was the organist there and it was he who interested George Deans in organs and learning to play an organ when he was young.   (See photo)

¨ Estey — bought from Leon Clements, Pukeroa Bay, of Melody Farm Museum.

¨ Barnes & Mullins - Apiti Methodist Church — This folding organ was donated by the Fielding Methodist church, to pass on to an elderly friend whose mother used to sing to it when a teenager.  He gave it to us.  We understand it was shared with the Rangiwahia church as well, and used to be put on the back of a cart or truck and taken around the community.   (See Photo)

¨ Cornish Co. Organ — This rather ornate organ was in the Ormondville NZ Seventh-day Adventist Church when Ellen White dedicated it in the late 1800’s.  The church and organ were later moved to Dannevirke. 

¨ John Malcolm — This organ was bought from the Presbyterians by the Seventh-day Adventist church in Taihape, NZ.  It has had a blower installed. When it was replaced by an electronic organ it went into the Wrights’ shed.  We obtained it for a donation.

¨ Estey — Bought from a second-hand shop.  This organ has been somewhat modernized, and spoiled, in our opinion.  Still plays nicely though.

¨ John Malcolm — Bought from a second-hand shop.  Plays quite nicely but needs refinishing and tidying.

¨ A & E Humphreys — Bought from the Norsewood Museum.  Is thought to have come from the Norsewood Presbyterian Church.    (See Photo)

¨ Worcester — Bought from the Tender Centre. Needs a lot of tidying.   (See Photo)

¨ Carpenter — Bought from Mrs. Nigel Dixon of Palmerston North.  Her mother had bought it from the Brethren church for her son to learn on.  It was being stored in the Dixons’ garage.

¨ Mason & Hamlin — Donated by Mrs. Doris Scholes.  It was the original organ in the Napier Town Hall in the end of the 1800’s.  Her mother bought it and it was in Mrs. Scholes’ family for around 70 years.   (See Photo)

¨ Bell — Bought from David Askin, who bought it from an auction in Whangarei. It is a tall “piano” type organ — our “midi-Bell”.    (See Photo)

¨ Bell — Donated by the Apostolic church in Waipukerau. Small but plays very well.  Our “mini-Bell.    (See Photo)

¨ Alexandre Pere & Sons — a big French Harmonium (which means the air is blown through the reeds instead of sucked through.  Gives it more volume.)  Bought from Leon Clements, of the Melody Farm Museum in Pukeroa Bay.  (See Photo)

¨ Weaver — Bought from the Woodville Anglican Church.  It was donated to them by the Leese family — of whom Anna and Matthew are now well-known singers.

¨ Mason & Hamlin — bought from “The Attic” Antique Shop in Aokautere.  It wasn’t working because the bellows was riddled with borer.  We have rebuilt the bellows and now it plays reasonably well.  Needs some more work done on it though.  (See Photo)

¨ Accordian — bought from George Deans

¨ Lap Organ — A little one that sits on your lap and runs by a blower powered with batteries.  Donated by Rev. and Mrs. Pascoe, Anglican Priest, in Whangarei.  Needs work on the reeds.

¨ Cornish Co. — Bought from the Porongahau Presbyterian Church. Has been slightly modernized but plays well.  (See Photo)

¨ J. Estey & Co. — Bought from Graham McEwan of Christchurch.  Made in 1878.  (See Photo)   (See Another photo – close-up)