The Estey Organ Museum of Brattleboro, Vermont, has acquired a rare Estey Upright Minuette. Between 1929 and 1932, Estey produced some 56 of these two-manual, three-rank unit organs (diapason, flute, and string, or Vox Humana, flute, and string, most with five chime tubes), 30 resembling a grand piano (the “Grand Minuette”) and 26 resembling an upright piano (the “Upright Minuette”).
The museum’s new acquisition, Opus 2819, was previously owned by Joe and Jinny Vanore of Ridgewood, New Jersey, who were founders and long-time members of the Garden State Theatre Organ Society. Mrs. Vanore passed away two years ago, and Mr. Vanore is now in an assisted-living facility, and so the organ has been turned over to the museum. The instrument was first placed in the Estey studio in New York City. Another previous owner of the organ is Fred Feibel of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, one of the organists of New York City’s Paramount Theatre. The organ will be reassembled in the museum in the spring.
For information: http://esteyorganmuseum.org
