Farrand & Votey Organ Co.
Opus 700, 1893
Columbian Exposition
Festival Hall
Chicago, IL, US
3,901 Pipes
Instrument ID: 19065 ● Builder ID: 1992 ● Location ID: 17301
⬆️ These are database IDs that may change. Don't use as academic reference.EXPLORE IMAGESVIEW STOPLISTSomething not quite correct?Suggest an Edit
Plenum Organ Company
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IMAGES
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STOPLISTS
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CONSOLES
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Builder: Farrand & Votey Organ Co.
Position: Keydesk Attached
Design: Traditional Without Cover
Pedalboard Type: Flat Straight
Features:
4 Manuals (61 Notes)30 Note Pedal63 StopsElectrical Key ActionElectrical Stop Action✓ Combination Thumb Piston(s)✓ Sforzando Toe Piston(s)✓ Combination Trundle(s)✓ Hitchdown Coupler(s)Stop Layout: Drawknobs in Horizontal Rows on Terraced/Stepped Jambs
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Not Meeting AGO Standards)
Combination Action: Unknown
Control System: Unknown or N/A
Additional Notes: The console illustration published in 1895 depicts compass 61/30
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DETAILS
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This instrument is: Not Extant and Not Playable in this location
Paul R. Marchesano on February 4th, 2026:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sun, Aug 06, 1893 ·Page 18, reported the Great Organ in the Festival Hall at the Columbian Exposition now in place and dedicated. "63 speaking stops." Gives builder as "Detroit builder" and breakdown of pipe counts in each division and total. See DOCUMENTS tab for complete article. "The great Farrand & Votey organ in Festival Hall is...valued at $ 15,000 to $20,000." See DOCUMENTS tab for console plan from this book. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AT THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE PRESTO CO., 1895
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sun, Aug 06, 1893 ·Page 18, reported the Great Organ in the Festival Hall at the Columbian Exposition now in place and dedicated. "63 speaking stops." Gives builder as "Detroit builder" and breakdown of pipe counts in each division and total. See DOCUMENTS tab for complete article. "The great Farrand & Votey organ in Festival Hall is...valued at $ 15,000 to $20,000." See DOCUMENTS tab for console plan from this book. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AT THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION, CHICAGO: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE PRESTO CO., 1895
Database Manager on September 23rd, 2015:
Updated through online information from Stephen Hall. -- The organ was located in Festival Hall and was widely praised by visiting musicians including Alexander Guilmant. After the fair, it was moved to the University Auditorium at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. (Charles A. Daniell, Musical Instruments at the World's Columbian Exposition (Presto Company, Chicago, 1895) pp 271-274; accessed via Google e-books Sept 18, 2015) More information from the drawing of the facade and plan for the console in this book.
Database Manager on July 7th, 2005:
Included an echo division.
Webpage Links: Musical Instruments at the World\'s Columbian Exposition
Related Instrument Entries: Farrand & Votey Organ Co. (Opus 700, 1894) , Hutchings Organ Co. (1913) , Skinner Organ Co. (Opus 664, 1927)
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