Austin Organ

Founded in 1893, Austin Organs Inc. builds pipe organs using the Universal Airchest System developed by John T. Austin. The longevity and reliability of an Austin Organ speaks to his ingenuity; many of their instruments from the late 19th century are still in use today.

The factory is a big pile of red bricks on Woodland Street in Hartford. 

Everything is designed and manufactured on-site, from scratch.  Curt gave me a tour.

This is the room where lumber is received and planed into lengths for further tooling.

The cabinetry for a big organ commissioned by a Houston church is being crafted here.
This one is perhaps two floors high and the equivalent of six big rooms.

It takes about a year and a half to build the organ, which costs nearly $2 million.

Two men meticulously finish parts of the pipes by hand.

 Three women attach leather to wood blocks.  The organ's pedals will make these parts expand and contract, operating some of the keys.  (Or something like that . . . don't hold me to the details.) 

Dan does the voicing.  When he receives them, the pipes are just metal cylinders.  They make screechy noises.  When he finishes, each makes a clean and distinctive note of 

the desired pitch and tone.  Very cool to listen to a before and after.

The factory is a fascinating blend of old and new.  Many of the machines date back to the 19th century, but the planning and execution is guided by sophisticated engineering and technology.