2004-10-30/2019-04-29 - From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, revised edition, by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1997). - The Wanamaker Department Store was established by John Wanamaker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1876; it had a branch in New York City, New York. The stores were representatives of the Austin firm of Hartford, Connecticut. The Wanamaker Store became Macy's in 2012. Source: American Organist, October 1988, 5.
2015-08-26/2019-04-29 - From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, April 8, 2016 - The Wanamaker (now Macy's) store in Philadelphia Pennsylvania is home to the Wanamaker Organ, the largest functional pipe organ in the world. Built by the Los Angeles Art Organ Company for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the Wanamaker Organ was designed by George Ashdown Audsley. Purchased after the fair by Rodman Wanamaker and moved to his Philadelphia store. Despite having over 10,000 pipes, the sound was deemed inadequate for the space, and Wanamaker established his own shop in the store to enlarge it. William Boone Fleming, the original factory supervisor, was hired to direct the work. The organ was enlarged to its present size of six manuals and over 28,000 pipes. The Wanamaker organ shop is still active as a service shop for this instrument. Source: Friends of the Wanamaker Organ website.
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