2004-10-30/2019-10-05 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991). — Artist in New York City, New York; with Art Organ Co. of [New York City, New York,*] c. 1905, partner. Fox's Guide has Hoboken, New Jersey, which is not correct. Hoboken was the home of the Electrolian Company, successor of the Art Organ Company of Los Angeles. There is no relationship between the Art Organ Companies, they simply had similar names. —Ed. Sources: Orpha Ochse, The History of the Organ in the United States (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1975), 331. The American Organist October 1968 (New York: American Guild of Organists), 25.
2019-10-06/2019-10-06 - From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, October 5, 2019. — We associate George A. Audsley with huge concert organs, but he also had ideas regarding the salon organ. While the concert organ was intended to play the part of a one-man symphony, the salon organ would replace the chamber ensemble. He threw aside any attempt to play traditional 'church' literature, these instruments would provide incidental music, dance tunes, and lighter chamber music for the wealthy households who could afford such an instrument. While Audsley would provide the aural portion of these residence organs, J. Burr Tiffany would ensure that the eye would be pleased as well as the ear. An interior decorator for the fashionable millionaires of the late 1800s, Tiffany was a member of the family of famed New York jewelers, and a first cousin of stained-glass artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. At the time, he was also employed by Steinway Piano to decorate its customized concert grand pianos, in this capacity, he was responsible for the eagles supporting the concert grand in the East Room of the White House. His part in the new company was to design the ornate casework to present a suitable face for the salon organ, one which would be at home in the lavish (or overelaborate) décor of the period. Together, the two planned to capture the small, but lucrative market for the residence organ. The Art Organ Company was incorporated in New York in 1905. The incorporators were G. A. Audsely, J. Burr Tiffany and Robert Gere, Tiffany's brother-in-law. The company entered into an agreement with the Wirsching Organ Company to build organs to the designs of Audsley and Tiffany. The company showroom was in Steinway Hall, then on 14th St. in New York. Only six residence organs and two church organs were built, the company began having financial difficulties and Wirsching cancelled the contract in 1909. Tiffany had never left his position with Steinway Pianos, it again became his primary occupation until he retired in 1912. Sources: James Stark, "The Art Organ Company of New York", The Tracker (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 2005), 13-20. David Fox, George Ashdown Audsley (unpublished, 1995) p.151. Available as a PDF from Friends of the Wanamaker Organ website. "Retires after fifteen years of service". Music Trade Review December 28, 1912.
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