Book Description

I must, in the first instance, warn the reader that it is not written with the intention of dealing exhaustively with organ building generally, but, as its title implies, only with that particular phase which comes within the means and scope of an intelligent amateur workman. Therefore, such refinements as electric and pneumatic actions, not being required in small instruments, find no place in this work, but everything of interest to a home- worker is touched upon in a thoroughly practical manner. There are many works on the subject to which builders, purchasers, or general readers may resort for information respecting organs, but the in- structions contained in most of these works being limited to general, and often vague, description, are of little service to an ordinary amateur desirous of building the instrument himself, as in most cases the idea of building an organ at home is taken up by persons having little knowledge of the construction of the instrument which they so ardently desire to possess. It is indeed rather surprising that there is not a larger supply of literature dealing with this Subject from an amateur's point of view, for it is a matter which is constantly claiming the attention of young men of mechanical proclivities, and also one which exercises an astonishing and peculiar fascination Vf PREFACE. over them. But beyond isolated papers in magazines, and the little manual of the Rev. W. E. Dickson, there dees not appear to be anything which can rightly be considered as meeting the requirements of persons of the class referred to. It is with the object of supplying this want that I have been induced to compile the little manual which now seeks the suffrages of home- workers. As an amateur organ-builder I may fairly claim to have some knowledge of the necessities of that class, and of the difficulties which beset them at every turn. It has been my endeavour to smooth away those dMficulties by describing every part of the instrument in the fullest detail, and by supplementing the instructions, wherever practicable, with carefully- drawn illustrations. The method of making pipes of paper, which is an invention of my own, will, I trust, prove a boon to amateurs, especially those of limited means, as by making pipes of this material the most expensive item in the cost of the instrument is reduced to a comparati\'ely nominal sum. I do not think I could adduce better testimony of their efficiency than the fact that a practical organ-builder, who is quite un- known to me, has thought it worth his while to take up the manufacture of these pipes, and to enlarge his workshops for the purpose. I would add that the care, patience, and perseverance devoted to building even a small organ at home must necessarily afford most valuable training to young men, and the moral value of the instrument itself in a home where children are growing up cannot, 1 think, be over-estimated.