By 1893, Estey had built in
excess of 250,000 organs of various styles and designs. Always looking to
improve, they set out to build the ultimate reed organ and created the
Phonorium. However, this ultimate designed organ brought with it a price
that halted the Phonorium of ever going into production. Consequently, there are
only a handful of Phonoriums in existence today.
Of these the
Phonorium seen below has the largest musical specifications. Containing 12 sets
of reeds, each set being complete and full with only two
sets being divided and shared. The organ is built using a vacuum system.
Please "click" on the picture below for
details about this instrument.
Until recently this
wonderful instrument was owned by David Smith of Outback Mechanical Music in
Bainbridge, NY.
Unfortunately, in June 2006, a disastrous flood devastated areas in central
New York State, damaging many of the instruments in this collection. Your
webmaster contacted Mr. Smith, and both agreed that the next best
location for this instrument would be in its place of manufacture,
Brattleboro, VT. The organ is now in storage in Brattleboro awaiting
restoration in 2007.