This fine Loring & Blake "Palace Organ" --given to a schoolhouse museum to replace the E.P. Carpenter the school originally had--needed little work.  It plays; it is in fair tune; all the mechanical accoutrements work.  One treadle was loose, and required a new toggle, plus a little lubrication.  A grill needed some glue for a crack.  A few case screws were missing.  Easy but important repairs.  This organ will be used to introduce new generations of schoolchildren to the reed organ sound within the context of one-room school daily life.

Loring & Blake, Worcester, Massachusetts -- 1892

Opus 64577

ROS # pending

Treadle mechanism on the L & B. 

The treadle "hinge" on this L & B is simple, probably not inexpensive to manufacture compared to the more common staple-and-hinge found on most reed organs, but reliable.  It eliminates the loosening of the treadle common to the other major type of hinge, and is easy to get at.  The stirrup attachment to the exhauster strap is a departure from the more common attachment of the strap directly to the underside of the treadle.  Since the toe of the player's shoe often impinges on this part of the strap, that is where they wear, weaken, and break.  The L&B stirrup obviates this problem.