2018-05-07/2019-04-29 - From the Builders Listing editor, January 23, 2017. - Elmer Arndt was the father of Robert Arndt. He installed and serviced theater and church organs in the Midwestern United States starting at least in the 1950s and continuing into the 1960s. He was assisted by his son, Robert until 1966 when Robert formed his own firm. Source: Arndt Organ Supply Company website, http://www.arndtorgansupply.com/about.htm, accessed March 7, 2016.
2018-05-07/2019-02-11 - From a document written in memory of his father by Robert Arndt, and sent to the Builders Listing editor, received January 26, 2017. - Elmer Edwin Arndt was born on July 2, 1902 in Springfield, Minnesota. He married Lela Marie Rose on 10 August 1926. Elmer-s family moved to Huron, South Dakota in 1920. While there, he worked in Costain-s music store rebuilding and tuning pianos and repairing other musical instruments. At the beginning of his employment, the owner of the music store sent Elmer to St Charles, Illinois, for factory training at Cable Piano for six months, so that he would be qualified to service their pianos. Elmer also learned repair of band instruments at H. N. White (King instruments), Cincinnati, Ohio. While working at the music store, he assisted pipe organ companies in their local installations. He and his brother Leo later did radio repair in their shop in the back of the music store. In 1947 Elmer moved his family to Des Moines where he worked at Solar Aircraft as an electronic electrician. After a short time in California working for Lockheed, he brought them back to Des Moines. He began working with Fred Cesander installing and servicing pipe and electronic organs-particularly working on the electronics of Fred-s Jubal Organ Company instruments. In the 1960-s Elmer and son Robert Arndt traveled the Midwest installing and servicing pipe and electronic organs. In 1966, Bob and Elmer began producing Howard seats; this was followed by other hard-to-find parts for Wurlitzer pipe organs. Bob started Keyboard Entertainment Products Manufacturing Company in the basement of their home with Elmer working with him. In 1971 a new factory was built in Ankeny, Iowa; and the company name was changed to Arndt Organ Supply Company. They also built and installed new pipe organs in Iowa, Minnesota and one in California. Elmer continued to work there until he became too ill from cancer. Elmer Arndt died August 4, 1983 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.