Organ, Reed

Object Name:

Organ, Reed

Object ID:

1999.008

Date:

circa 1845

Description:

Lap Melodeon, c.1845, used by Walter Kittredge (1834-1908) of Merrimack, NH. Rosewood veneer case with keyboard of 49 ivory and wooden keys, on leather-covered bellows. Number "134" stamped into lid interior. Number "777" stamped into box interior. Tuner's mark written in pencil, "Nov 10, 1848 / J.A. F[arley] / Tuner" and "Tuned [F A 1,] 53". Each key numbered, 1 to 49. Diamond-shaped wood inlaid into each corner of the box. Melodeon in four parts: Lid (A); Keyboard in box (B); bellows (C); and leather cover for bellows (D). Maker's nameplate missing.Object Register: Lap Melodeon Lid. 1.75" x 26.9" x 11.75". Keyboard in box. Keypad: 25.25" long. Overall: 4" x 26.75" x 11.75". Bellows. Made up of two wooden boards connected with two springs. The springs are made of two sheet iron straps riveted together.

Material:

Wood
Tissue
Ivory
Leather
Metal

Dimensions:

H-9.5 W-26.75 D-11.75 inches

Provenance:

Donor is great grandson of Walter Kittredge. Melodeon came to donor through his mother's estate; she said that the melodeon was used by Kittredge for composing and entertaining.
Walter Kittredge (1834-1908), Merrimack, NH. Composer. Born Reed's Ferry, NH. Married Annie E. Fairfield, 1861; settled in Merrimack, N.H. Graduated Merrimack Normal Institute, 1851. Composed "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," for which he became famous.

Credit Line:

Gift of Richard E. Bengtson

People:

Kittredge, Walter (1834-1908)