Pipe Organ Database

For further information, see: Ernest M. Skinner.

From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, 13 September, 2015. -

Lewis & Hitchcock, Inc. was founded in 1915 by Theodore C. Lewis and William I. Hitchcock. They came to Washington in 1915 as installers of the new E.M. Skinner organ [Opus 1248] in the Bethlehem Chapel of the Washington Cathedral, which was the only finished portion of the Cathedral at that time. They decided they liked the area and stayed, eventually becoming the E.M. Skinner and then Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co. representatives in the area.

Mr. Lewis was a voicer and Mr. Hitchcock had been the factory foreman and installation supervisor for Skinner. Thus they knew the Skinner organ and how to build a similar instrument without violating patents. All the early Lewis & Hitchcock organs were very much like Skinner instruments. In the 1950-s they developed a new form of electro-pneumatic action that was used until Mr. Hitchcock-s death in 1967. At that time the firm was purchased by George Payne, who had apprenticed with the firm. Under his direction the first mechanical and electric action organs were built. During his tenure the firm expanded by incorporating the Newcomer Organ Company, the Roggman Organ Service and the Lent Organ Service companies. Mr. Payne in turn sold the firm to men who had apprenticed at Lewis & Hitchcock - David McCahan, Gerald Piercey and Dave Selby. In November of 2012, long-time employees Richard Alford and DeWitt Long became the new owners.

Source:

• Lewis & Hitchcock website, accessed Sept 13, 2015.
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From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North America Organ Builders by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1991). -

Established by Theodore C. Lewis and William I. Hitchcock in Washington, DC, 1915; acquired by George Payne, 1967, locations in Silver Spring, Maryland, Richmond and Vienna, Virginia; acquired the Newcomer Organ Co. of Washington, DC, as an independent division, 1983; active in 2015.

Staff: Frank Govern; Gerald L. Piercey.

Source(s):

• Piano and Organ Purchaser-s Guide, Purchaser-s Guide to the Music Industries, (published by Music Trades, New York).
• American Organist, Apr. 1989, 91.
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