The OHS Pipe Organ Database

David A.J. Broome

BuilderID 851

Builder Identification

England before 1957; Hartford, Connecticut, 1957–1999.

Additional Notes

  • Note from the Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, September 2, 2017. —

    David A. J. Broome was born February 21, 1932 in England; he began his career with the J.W. Walker firm of England. Coming to the United States, he started with Austin Organs of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1957. He was appointed as tonal director at Austin in 1978, and held that title until his retirement in 1999.

    After his retirement from Austin, he formed his own firm. Particularly well known for reed voicing, David Broome operated Broome and Company with his son Christopher, voicing reeds for restorations performed by the company; and providing reeds to other builders for new installations, and restorations. Broome could also replicate reed stops of historic builders to allow additions to existing organs in a sympathetic style. David Broome died March 17, 2013, in Windsor Locks, Massachusetts.

    Sources:

    • David H. Fox, "David A.J. Broome" A Guide to North American Organbuilders, rev. ed. (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1997), 82.
    • Obituary "David A.J. Broome," Hartford Courant, March 24, 2013; accessed August 23, 2015; http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?pid=163836820.
    •  

  • From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, September 3, 2016 —

    After David Broome's death, his son Christopher continued to operate Broome and Company.

    Source:

    • Broome & Co. website, http://reedvoicers.com/.
    •  

  • From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991; rev. ed., 1997, with updated information). —

    Born February 21, 1932 in England; with J. W. Walker firm of England, 1948; with Austin Organs of Hartford, Connecticut, 1957, tonal director, 1978; active 1996.

    Sources:

    • American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO), 1989 membership directory.
    • Austin Company Literature.
    • Music, September 1978, 45. [ published by the American Guild of Organists, 1967-1978; name changed to The American Organist starting with the January 1979 issue.]
    • Organ Handbook (Organ Historical Society, 1984), 13.
    • Elizabeth Towne Schmitt.
    •  

Database Entries

There are no entries in the database that describe organs by David A.J. Broome.

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