Imported with Organ/Harmonium by Thomas Sebire in 1911Stool (with Organ/Harmonium) with carved shaped legs. Imported from Cornish Company Washington New Jersey USAmusic stools

This organ in the Flagstaff Hill collection has a card under the hinged lid titled “The ‘Connoisseur’ Organ” and lists improvements, materials used in the components and directions for taking it apart; it is dated July 1883. Below this card is a printed label listing various Patents, dated; July 9th 1878 / Reissued December 10 1878 - plus September 10 1878 / April 15 1879 / October 28 1879. “The Smith American Organ Company was originally established by S.D. Smith and H.W. Smith as early as 1852. First known as the Smith American Organ Company, the firm was located in Boston and built high end parlour organs and melodeons. In the early 1880s the firm began building pianos and the name of the firm was changed to "The Smith American Organ & Piano Company". In 1889, the firm acquired The Regal Piano Company from the New England Piano Company, and the firm was known as "The Smith American Piano Company" by the 1890s. The Smith American Piano Company built and controlled the Regal Piano Company line until 1903. Many of the instruments by Smith American were also labelled as 'The Palace Of Music'. It appears that the Smith American firm went out of business in the first part of the 20th Century.” A significant item of musical memorabilia and regarded as a collectors item today. Reed organ (sometimes called a pump organ or melodeum). “Connoisseur “model, made by The Smith American Organ Company. Wooden piano-shaped musical instrument with carving and gold leaf decoration. Organ has keyboard, stops (16), shutters (10) above stop board, large foot pedals and a roll back keyboard cover. There is evidence of something being attached either side of the shutters (candle bracket?). Attached inside hinged lid are Directions and Patent information of The Smith American Organ Company, Boston MASS. USA. Label is dated July 1883. Lettering in gold across front of organ “CONNOISSEUR”, “SMITH AMERICAN - - -“ and “ORGAN - - M - - ANY”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, harmonium, organ, piano, musical instrument, music, entertainment, connoisseur organ, reed organ, parlour organ, smith american organ company

This organ was gifted by the Bethel Community in 1890 to the then Victorian Seamen's Mission, originally founded by the Bethel Union in 1857. The gift was intended to assist with worship. Despite all appearance, this organ is not a pipe organ but a reed organ that works in a similar manner to an accordion. In May 1890, the sum of seventy pounds was put towards the purchase of the organ. The sum being raised via subscriptions. The organ was inaugurated in September 1890. Jabez Carnegie (1832-1892), importer of piano and organs in Melbourne, had made a trip to Europe and Canada in 1887 and had secured the agency of Bell organs. W. Bell & Co were a Canadian organ and piano manufacturer, considered the premier organ manufacturer of the time. W Bell & Co changed its name to Bell Organ and Piano Co in 1888 meaning this organ had to be manufactured prior to the name change. The organ was first used in the mission main room from 1890 to 1915 when the St Nicholas chapel was built at the back (see item 0548. It was transfered to the new Port Melbourne mission in 1937 (link on postcard from State Library Victoria). In 1972, it was transferred to the Holy Trinity Church in Bay Street after the closure of the Mission In the late 1980s during a National Trust campaign to save the building, the organ was sold by the Anglican Men's Society to the Trust's organ committee, who carried out some restoration work and returned it to the former Missions to Seamen chapel. In 1991 the Office of Major Projects had control of the whole 'Bayside' development site. With the Mission to Seamen Building emptied and proposed for demolition, the Office of Major Projects removed the organ and placed it in storage in various locations - finally, in the Museum of Victoria store in Abbotsford. In 1995-6, enquiries by Jim Hillis resulted in the return of the organ to the control of the Port Melbourne HIstorical & Preservation Society. As the Society had no suitable location for the organ, several churches and schools in Port Melbourne were approached to take the organ with no results. The nearby suburbs were suggested next. Finally the Melbourne Maritime Museum (Polly Woodside) was approached and agreed to place it in their Museum on a long term loan. In 1997 it was on display in no 5 shed South Wharf (23/3/1997). In 2006, the Polly Woodside South Wharf site was to be re-developed, and they could no longer retain the organ. Accordingly, on 4 May 2006, the organ was transferred to the Mission To Seafarers building in Flinders Street Extension as an indefinite loan (refer OL 022) The PMHPS deaccessioned it to finally transfered it in 2018 to MTSV.(See also acquisition details re 21st C finalisation of acquisition) This organ is a tangible reminder of the longevity of the Mission to Seafarers, a link with the original Bethel Union which was instrumental in 1856 calling a public meeting and inviting subscriptions by various non-conformist churches to found a mission to Seamen. Rev Kerr-Johnson delivered the first service in 1857 aboard the Emily. The Mission to Seafarers has been in operation ever since and continues to operate to the same purpose today.Large reed organ that looks like a pipe organ with fifteen elaborately painted pipes bearing a floral motif. The body of the organ is elaborately decorated in carved wood. It has 17 knobs above the keyboard both which can be concealed when the keyboard cover is lowered. There are two foot pedals at the bottom of the organ with "Mouse Proof Pedals" cast into the framing iron. list of stop names: Viola 4Ft Diapason 8Ft Dolce 4Ft Violetta 2Ft Sub Bass 16 Ft Octave Coupler Vox Humana Forte Picciolo 2Ft Hautboy 8Ft Aeoline 8Ft Cremona 16Ft E---bone 16Ft Echo 8Ft Celeste 8Ft Melodia 8Ft Flute 4FtMaker's mark in gold lettering above keyboard: W. Bell & Co Brass plaque on front board: Presented to/The Victorian Seamen's Mission/by/Congregation worshipping in Bethel/& friends./1st September 1890 Behind the stops a wooden plaque: J. CARNEGIE & SONS, SOLE AGENTS FOR VICTORIA MELBOURNE organ, worship, bethel, pipes, reed, bethel union, pipe top, jabez carnegie, w. bell & co, port melbourne, mission to seafarers, seamens' mission, mission to seamen, guelph, ontario, canada, pmhps, polly woodside, harmonium, reed organ

Circa 1870, “Estey”, American-made, small Harmonium, (commonly known as a Gospel Organ). Initially purchased by Mr John Box, This example folds up into a small wooden case. It was often borrowed and could frequently be seen on the roadside, waiting to be picked up by horse and cart for delivery to a place of worship, often a local hall or private home. This organ was donated to the Baptist Church in the 1920s, from the estate of John Box, and was in constant use. This 'Estey' harmonium belonged to the local Bentleigh Baptist Church, Vickery Street, Bentleigh. It was often borrowed for delivery to a place of worship, often a local hall. There was also a “Methodist Mission to Chinese”, located in Lydia Street, Bentleigh, where the Methodist religion was taught to those interested Chinese. Pioneer settlers welcomed the support and fellowship provided by their gatherings for regular religious worshipCirca 1870, “Estey”, American, small Harmonium, (commonly known as a Gospel Organ). This example folds up into a small, wooden case so that it could be easliy transported to Religious Servicesmoorabbin, harmonium, baptist church, pioneers, settlers, bentleigh, worship, mckinnon, cheltenham, organs, estey, methodist mission

This "Cornish" organ was imported by Thomas Sebire of Wandin in 1911. In 1942 it was bequeathed to his daughter, Edna (Mrs. G. Andrews of Wandin) and by her to her daughter, Beverly (Mrs. L.D. Creek of Nhill) in 1971. Mrs Creek has made this organ available for the Wandin Historical Display. Mrs. G. Andrews was organist of the Wandin Methodist Church from 1927 to 1942. Owned and used by Thomas Sebire.Pump organ with pedals. Has carved decoration on front and sides."Cornish Company, Washington New Jersey USA"harmoniums, organs

There is a brass plaque that states: THIS PLAQUE IS IN MEMORY OF DORA CHAPMAN daughter of William and Estelle Chapman CALLED HOME WHILE PLAYING THE ORGAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SILVAN CHURCH. SEPTEMBER, 27TH 1936 DORA WAS A SISTER TO MR ERNEST CHAPMAN On another plaque it states: THIS ORGAN WAS A WEDDING PRESENT TO ERN AND BERYL CHAPMAN AND WAS DONATED TO MONT DE LANCEY IN THE YEAR 1994 BY MAVIS, BOB, LES AND ALBERT CHAPMAN The organ was a present from Mr Ernest Chapman and his bride on the occasion of their wedding on October 26th 1927. The organ was made in Meriden Connecticut USA by Wilcox and White in 1885. A date inside the organ indicates that it was last tuned June 16th 1900. A highly decorated, delicate ornate carved wooden pump organ with a round mirror set back into the front panel. It has a sheet music rest or shelf with an opening lid to store sheet music inside the cupboard. There are two side shelves with five knobs on each at the front. It has a keyboard with thirteen stops below. Next to the key stops above the keyboard is gold lettering with 'Wilcox & White Meriden. Connecticut. USA.There are two brass patterned pump foot pedals below: the left one has 'WILCOX' stamped on it, the right pedal has '& WHITE' stamped on it and the metal is damaged from use. There are two carved levers underneath the keyboard: the left one has a sticker saying "Grand Organ", the right one's sticker says, "Knee Swell". There is no stool.The brass covered left foot pump pedal has 'WHITE' stamped on it, the right pedal has '......' stamped on it. There are two carved levers underneath the keyboard: the left one has a sticker saying 'Grand Organ', the right one's sticker says, 'Knee Swell'. The manufacturer : WILCOX AND WHITE is printed in gold letters on ......The thirteen 'stops' all have different musical terms printed in a sticker. e.g...............parlour organs, cabinet organs, harmoniums, pump organs

Tilly Aston playing a reed organ, often referred to as a harmonium. An unidentified woman sits next to the organ. In this informal shot a middle-aged Tilly is wearing a checked jacket with white collared blouse and long skirt. The organ has a number of photographs upon it and appears to be in someone's lounge room.B/W photograph of Tilly Aston playing organtilly aston, association for the blind