Davenport, Iowa, 1966-1980; Buffalo, Iowa, from 1980.
Classification: Builder
From the OHS Database Builders editor, September 21, 2017. -
Staff (2019): Rodney Levsen -President Rodney Levsen, Jr - First Vice President, General Shop Manager Colleen Levsen - Treasurer Stephen Meyermann - Tonal Director Janice Levsen - Office Manager Christopher Levsen - Architectural Design Ronald Schnack - Organ Builder Matthew Levsen - Organ Builder Greg Levsen - Computer Consultant
Source:
From the OHS Database Builders editor, January 6, 2017. -
According to the company website, the firm was established in 1954. It was active in 2015 with 14 employees. The firm does not give opus numbers but lists 83 projects since 1980, these range from replacing the console to a complete new organ. The instruments are mostly electro-pneumatic action.
Company president Rodney Levsen states their philosophy:
"Levsen Organ Company is inclined to build in the American Classical tonal principal. We feel it yields an eclectic instrument that is flexible, as a worship organ should be. We also believe in building affordable organs with state-of-the-art technology using both mechanical and electric action."
Rodney E. Levsen, President of the company, is a longtime member of the Organ Historical Society, the International Society of Organ Builders and has been a sustaining member of the AGO since 1965. He is also a member of the American Institute of Organ Builders (AIO).
Source:
From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders,, rev. ed., by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1997). -
Rodney Levsen Sr. was born 20 Sept. 1935, Davenport, Iowa; he was the father of Rodney Levsen, Jr., and Matthew Levsen.
He was a field service technician with Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1955; a representative and technician of the Wicks firm of Highland, Illinois, 1966-1978 in Davenport, Iowa. He established his own service firm around 1966; and had a factory built in Buffalo, Iowa, 1980, where he built new organs and rebuilt old ones; the firm was active in 1995.
Staff (1996): Robert Cooper; Glen Day; Bro. Donald Newman Endicott; Dave Gaulrapp; Deloy Goeglin; Don Hough; Matthew Levsen; Rodney Levsen, Jr.; Larry Peterson; James A. Rigsby; Jan Visage; Eugene Wilson
Sources: