From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, April 12, 2018. -

Electrolian Organ Co. succeeded the Los Angeles Art Organ Co. of Los Angeles, California. It was established by Arthur S. Brook, Frederick R. Coffin, and William B. Fleming; with financial backer Eben Smith as president in Hoboken, New Jersey, November 13, 1905. Smith had been a successful mine owner, smelting company executive, railroad executive and bank owner in Colorado. Retiring to California in 1901, he decided to invest in the Murray M. Harris Organ Company. When the firm began struggling with financial problems, Smith took over in an attempt to salvage his investment. Under Smith's direction the Murray M. Harris Co. became the Los Angeles Art Organ Co. Since his aim was to build high-end residence organs, Smith moved the company east to Hoboken, New Jersey and renamed it the Electrolian Organ Co. in an attempt to better compete with the industry leader, the Aeolian Company. As a builder of extra-quality art organs it never attracted significant business, and concurrent with Smith's death November 5, 1906, the business was dissolved. The Wershing firm of Salem, Ohio acquired the firm's assets. Most of the Electrolian staff gradually returned to the Los Angeles area where Murray Harris had re-established a firm under his own name.

Sources:

• James Lewis.




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Note from the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Organ Historical Society, 1991). -

Succeeded [Los Angeles] Art Organ Co. of Hoboken, New Jersey;
established by Arthur S. Brook, Frederick R. Coffin, William
B. Fleming, and Eben Smith in Hoboken, New Jersey, 13 November 13, 1905; bankrupt 1906.

Sources:

• The Diapason, May 1971, 18.


• Incorporation Papers