The pump organ, reed organ, harmonium, or melodeon is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed.
The reed organ is a rather young instrument. It was first by Alexandre Debain in 1840 in France, who patented this instrument in Paris on August 9, 1840.
In this instrument he used a pressure winding system, with free reeds. Since that time his invention is used by many others. The reed organ was produced by many others during the second half of the 19th century.
Here is a rare photo collection from Brenda that shows people with their reed organs in the late 19th and early 20 centuries.
The reed organ is a rather young instrument. It was first by Alexandre Debain in 1840 in France, who patented this instrument in Paris on August 9, 1840.
In this instrument he used a pressure winding system, with free reeds. Since that time his invention is used by many others. The reed organ was produced by many others during the second half of the 19th century.
Here is a rare photo collection from Brenda that shows people with their reed organs in the late 19th and early 20 centuries.
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| A Victorian family with their reed organ, ca. 1880s |
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| Man seats at folding reed organ, another with a violin, Monterrey, Mexico, ca. 1880s |
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| Victorian woman with Newman Bros. reed organ, Chicago, Illinois, ca. 1880s |
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| Wedding couple with Mason & Hamlin reed organ, ca. 1880s |
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| Woman seats with Windsor chapel organ, ca. 1880s |
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| Young ladies holding photograph of Daniel F. Beatty, reed organ manufacturer, ca. 1880s |
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| Young woman in white with reed organ, ca. 1880s |
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| Four well-dressed children pose in front of a reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Girl with reed organ, circa 1896 |
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| Little boy named Delwin Clikeman with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Man and woman with musical instruments and folding reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Man seats with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Three nicely-dressed young children, one holding her doll, stand in front of a beautiful Story & Clark reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Two women with large reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Two young girls with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Victorian lady seats at pipe-top reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Victorian lady with her Weaver reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Victorian parlor with family and Newman Bros. reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Victorian women seat with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Woman seats at reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Young boy named Vernie Huffman with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Young lady seats at reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Young woman with reed organ and cat on lap, ca. 1890s |
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| Brother with violin while sister seats on organ stool, circa 1900 |
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| Family with reed organ, ca. 1890s |
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| Two women stand beside reed organ, circa 1900 |
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| Young couple with reed organ, circa 1900 |
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| Young lady seats at reed organ while man with violin, circa 1900 |
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| Young man with reed organ and harmonica, circa 1900 |
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| Young woman named Ada Watkins at her organ, Corning, California, circa 1900 |
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| Young woman plays reed organ in large room, circa 1900 |
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| A couple with their reed organ, circa 1910 |
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| Young ladies with reed organ Mildred Dahl, Drayton, North Dakota, September 28, 1910 |
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| Young lady playing reed organ, ca. 1910s |
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| Young woman with reed organ, Minnesota, 1911 |
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| Sisters with reed organ, 212 East Cass Street, Joliet, Illinois, August 5, 1913 |
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| Man with reed organ, drum and violin, July 4, 1914 |
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| Beautiful young lady and her reed organ, 1915 |
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| 15-year-old girl seats at her reed organ, 1916 |
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| Young woman with reed organ, January 8, 1918 |
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| Couple playing reed organ and violin, no date |
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| Two guys with instruments and reed organ, Grimmet, Missouri, no date |
