Pipe Organ Database

From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbilders by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1997). -

Clyde M. "Sandy" Balcom was born in 1899. He worked with Eilers Music Co. {retail store} of San Francisco, California, 1914; then began organ building with the Schoenstein firm of San Francisco, California, 1916-1921. He was later with Sherman Clay, organ sales and service in Seattle, Washington; then partner with Lloyd Provorse in Balcom & Provorse of Seattle, Washington, early 1920s. He better known as a partner with Ernest L. Vaughan in Balcom & Vaughan of Seattle, Washington, c. 1925-1970. During part of that period he was also a representative of the Aeolian-Votey firm of Garwood, New Jersey, in Seattle, Washington, 1928; and also representative of the Estey firm of Brattleboro, Vermont, c. 1928. He and Vaughn briefly took a third partner with J. Riley Chase in Balcom, Vaughan & Chase for 5 weeks, c. 1930, the previous partnership continued thereafter. Balcom retired in 1966.

Sources:

• The Diapason, January 1928, 22.
• The Diapason, December 1930, 27.
• David Junchen, Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1 (Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985), 50.