Every so often I share questions and comments from blog reader.  Today I am answering a question from  Linda, “ON YOUR BLOG THIS MORNING I NOTICED YOU HAVE A PUMP ORGAN IN BACKGROUND. WHAT KIND OF TOP DOES IT HAVE ON IT? I HAVE ONE THAT HAS BEEN IN FAMILY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I DON’T EVER REMEMBER A TOP BUT THERE IS A LITTLE DISCOLOR AND THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE YEARS AGO. I WENT ON CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR 6 OR 7 YEARS AGO AND THEY HAD ONE WITH A DOME LOOKING TOP. FIRST ONE I HAVE SEEN WITH TOP ON IT”
Linda had see this picture.
Yes..that is a pump organ in the back and that pump organ has a story.
It is my Grandma Johnson’s.
Right now it is due for a good dose of lemon oil. Â Anyway…My grandma had long been dead by time I came around. Â Grandpa had sold the farm to my Dad remarried and moved to town. Â Even Grandpa had died before I was born. Â I never got a sense of Grandpa and Grandma Johnson’s house and have no idea of how they decorated or what they had for furniture. Â I’m really sorry I missed them.
Anyway, even though this organ was Grandma’s I had no idea of it’s existence. Â My aunt Esther got it at some point.
From there, her son John got it. Â John and his wife Katha got it from her. Â They decided they didn’t want it anymore and knew their boys weren’t interested in it so they gave it to my sister Judy.
I first learned of the organ when it came to Judy’s house. Â I was told it was my Grandma Johnson’s and it was purchased for her use. Â There’s a story about getting it from a bar in Parkersburg, Iowa or something like that.
When we were cleaning out my Dad’s house after he passed away my sister was so sad. Â My Mom and Dad had a Hammond organ. Â Mom played. Â Judy took lessons on it and liked to play too. Â Me…not really. Â Anyway Judy wished we wouldn’t have to give the organ away to Goodwill. Â She wanted it. Â None of the rest of us wanted it. Â Judy lamented that if only she didn’t have the old pump organ, she would have room for Mom and Dad’s Hammond organ.
Well I quickly jumped in and said I could take the pump organ and she could have the Hammond…and so the deal was struck.
I have the pump organ that was our grandparents and Judy has the Hammond that was our parents. Â It worked out rather well.
The organ as you see doesn’t have a top piece like some do. Â I’d love to find one and add it. Â There are plugs in the back on the top that indicate that a top with shelving could be added. Â I watch on auctions, flea markets and antique places for a top but so far, none have come my way. Â If I never find one, that’s okay too. Â I’m just happy to have a little slice of my grandparents. Â Sometimes when a person doesn’t have memory of someone, an article is what they can settle with.
Sadly, it doesn’t get played unless some curious 8-14 year old is here and dabbles.
I am really happy that the organ has come to rest at my home. Â I do hope that one of the kids will be the care taker of it once I am gone and they too can hold a little something that was once my grandma’s.
Interesting account on your pump organ – as I was reading it, was wondering if it still worked and you played. Looks like it is in fairly good condition. It is nice to get a small (??) piece of ones past as a remembers of them. When my parents died, I got an old 3 glass door library that was supposedly saved from grandma and grandpa’s house fire back in 1920’s. Two sections house what nots and the third is my collection of recipe books. I was surprised that my youngest daughter has claimed it when we are gone. (It was also something that my siblings and wife really didn’t want, but glad I got now.) Thanks for posting about the pump organ. Robert, from northern central Iowa.
THANK YOU
What a nice story and a beautiful organ. Thanks for sharing the story.
It was very interesting to read about your pump organ. It looks very similar to the pump organ I have- that was my grandmothers. I have almost decided that I should sell it….because my daughter doesn’t want it…..and I need to downsize. I have always loved that organ…it is going to be a very hard decision.