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

Original organ located in the Parlour of Brigidine Convent.Original pieceElaborate carved wooden organorgan

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