Melodeon and stool
Object NameMelodeon and stool
Manufacturer
Taylor and Farley
(American (Worcester, MA), 1855 - 1885)
Date1860
OriginUSA
MediumWood, ivory, ebony, velvet (on stool)
Dimensions31 1/4 × 47 1/2 × 38 3/4 in. with top up (79.4 × 120.7 × 98.4 cm)
ClassificationsMusical Instruments
Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Farwell T. Brown. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object number78.3.1
Status
On viewLabel TextThe melodeon is a small portable reed organ. It has removable mahogany legs, and it is lightweight. The melodeon was often loaded on the wagon and taken to different functions to provide musical entertainment. It produces its tones by drawing air in through suction. The air passes over metal reeds, activated by foot pedal bellows. A Victorian evening might consist of someone playing the melodeon while several people sang songs.
Simeon Taylor and John A. Farley partnered in the mid-1850s to form Taylor & Farley of Worcester, MA. Both came from musical manufacturer backgrounds in pianos, organs, woodworking and reed making. Over the 1860s the company saw growing popularity in their instruments and by 1870 was incorporated, however eventually falling to failing demand and shuttering in 1885.
MarkingsTAYLOR + FARLEY WORCHESTER, MASS.
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum, Parlor
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