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). —

Succeeded Bryant G. Parsons & Son; established by brothers Calvin Glenn and Richard Bryant Parsons in Penfield, New York, 1979; in Canadaigua, New York, 1989-1995. [Also styled Parsons Pipe Organ Builders (1995).]

Staff: David Andrews; Thomas J. Canfield; Dueane A. Prill.

Sources:

• Letter to David H. Fox.
• Elizabeth Towne Schmitt.
• The American Organist, January 1983 (New York: American Guild of Organists), 37.
• The American Organist, February 1989 (New York: American Guild of Organists), 77.
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From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, December 2, 2016. -

History

In the late 1800-s, Gideon Levi Parsons, a musician, settled in Massachusetts to apprentice with organ builder, John Wesley Steere. He married Steere-s niece and had two sons, Bryant and Richard. His career as a flue pipe voicer lasted with John Steere, his son, Frank, and later with another well-known organ builder, Ernest M. Skinner, who eventually purchased The Steere Organ Company.

Both of Gideon-s sons apprenticed with the Steere firm. Bryant Gideon Parsons continued in organ building and, with his general knowledge of organ building, particularly with the "newâ€? technology of 12 volt D.C. in organ actions, installed many of Ernest Skinner-s instruments. Prior to W.W.I, Bryant was curator of instruments at Yale University. Following the War, Bryant and his wife settled in Rochester, New York, where he had installed many organs previously. After a brief employment with Charles M. Topliff, Organbuilder, he formed his own company in 1921 and continued to focus on service work and historic restorations. Bryant had two children, Bryant, Jr. and Bina. Bryant G. Parsons, Jr., apprenticed with his father at an early age and with the M. P. Möller Organ Company. He returned to the firm following W.W.II and, in 1954, they incorporated as Bryant G. Parsons & Son, Inc. Bryant, Sr., retired circa 1960. The Company grew and relocated to Penfield, New York, and continued with service and restoration work, as well as building small pipe organs.

Bryant Jr.-s two sons, Richard and Calvin, apprenticed with the firm prior to receiving their degrees in electronics. They purchased the firm in 1979, upon their father-s retirement. The operation has been reorganized and expanded and now includes the design and building of custom pipe organs. Two instruments were built in the Penfield workshop prior to relocating to new and larger facilities in Canandaigua, New York, in 1986. Since then, the Company has expanded its operation to major rebuilding and re-manufacturing projects, as well as continuing to build new and larger instruments nationwide.

Source:

• Parsons Organ Co. website, http://www.parsonsorgans.com/our-history/, accessed Nov 19, 2015
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From the OHS Database Builders Listing editor, December 2, 2016. -

Parsons Organs is a full service design/builder of custom organs utilizing both mechanical and electrical key actions. Their electrical action instruments primarily use slider chests, although electro-pneumatic or electro-mechanical unit chests may be employed for special purposes. The firm places particular emphasis on voicing and visual design including case work. The firm accepts inquiries for new instruments, rebuilding/enlarging existing organs, and restoration of historic instruments within the United States. Service work (maintenance and tuning) is performed within the state of New York.

Personnel (2016):

Management: Richard Parsons - President
Calvin Parsons - Vice-President
Duane Prill - Tonal Director
Peter Geise - Project Manager
David McCleary - Project Development
Matt Parsons - Project Manager
Ellen Parsons - Business Manager

Staff: Tim Parsons; Jay Slover; Aaron Feidner; Tony Martino; Dale Smith; Bernard Talty II; Brenda Rizzo; Richard Schaefer; Aaron Grabowski; Joseph Borrelli; Chad Snyder; Daniel Gagne.

Source:

• Parsons Organ Co. website, http://www.parsonsorgans.com/about-us/, accessed December 2, 2016
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External Links:

Website: Parsons Organ Co.