Opus
1, Portative Organ
1974(see ivory plate inside
chest front cover or bung board)
The Historical Society of
Trappe, College, Perkiomen Valley is extremely grateful for the gift of
the Portative
Pipe Organ built by John Kaye Gottschall. The organ is similar to
instruments
in use during the 18th century and currently resides in the
parlor
of the Muhlenberg’s home in Trappe.
This beautifully
constructed instrument is given in Loving
Memory of Sally Thomas, nee Smith Kepler, born February 20, 1858, who
lived in
the Dewees House at the corner of Rt. 113 and Main Street in Trappe
circa 1920.
The house currently serves as the headquarters of the Society under a
long term
lease with St. Luke's United Church of Christ, Trappe.
Mr. Gottschall recalls
that his mother, Theresa Poley, nee Keyser, a granddaughter of Sally
Thomas, remembers
visiting and playing ball in the graveyard in the back yard, circa
1922. Sally
Thomas is buried in the graveyard behind the house which she rented for
$10 a
month. Mrs. Poley remembers her grandmother keeping food in the cave or
cold
cellar which is still to be found in the backyard of the house. Steps
still
lead down to this area behind the house along Route 113. The maternal
grandmother of Sally Thomas was Sarah Levy, mother of Edward Kepler who
was the
father of Sally Thomas. Any information which is known concerning Sarah
Levy
would be appreciated.
The Portative Pipe Organ
is built so that no electricity is necessary for it to be played. The stand, seat, front and back of chest, and
small reservoir are made of solid cherry wood, with the top of the
reservoir of
cherry plywood. The top, bottom, and sides of the chest are made of
Philippine
mahogany.
The keyboard is made to
the scale of the pipes, in the manner of many small
organs of the Renaissance
period. The action of the organ is the simplestmechanical action
possible; i.e., as you push down on the key, a dowel calleda "sticker"
pushes on the end of a wooden "pallet" inside the chest which is covered by felt and
leather. As the pallet is opened, it
allows the compressed air inside the
chest to go into the pipe directly behind the key.The
pallets were made by
the Felgemacher Company of poplar, and have been adapted for
use in
this organ. The keys are solid cherry
wood naturals
and walnut sharps.
The top of the rack
holding the pipes is of basswood, favored by pipe organbuilders for its
softness
and durability. The pipes were originally constructed by the
Felgemacher Organ
Company of Erie, Pennsylvania. In the revoicing of the pipes for low
wind
pressure, the screws for the caps of the pipes were removed, padauk
(Pterocarpus soyauxii) inserts made, and the caps reglued to the block
of the
pipes. New Honduras mahogany fronts of the pipes were made during the
revoicing.
The two bellows at the
back of the organ are made of solid cherry wood, covered
by fleece rubbercloth to
provide air-tight performance. The
pumping rod of solidcherry
wood is supported
by a rail of cherry wood, and a lignum vitae wheel.
The scaling and voicing of
this instrument make it perfect for inclusion with achest of recorders for
elegant music making!
Contact Mr. Gottschall
using the Society’s e-mail address: To send him email