Los Angeles Art Organ Co.
Opus 42, 1908 ca.

1. The organ is not Opus 42 - that number was assigned to Holy Cross Church, San Francisco.
2. The organ was shipped from Los Angeles October, 1905.
3. The organ was dedicated on December 17, 1905.

A work list published in the book "Murray M. Harris" credits the organ to 1905 and the product of the L.A. Art Organ Co. This book was the posthumous publication of David Lenox Smith's doctoral dissertation, edited by Orpha Ochse and published by the OHS Press in 2005. Smith cites a notice in the Musical Review, July 1905, which stated the organ was nearing completion in the shop and would be installed in time for Christmas. The sale in such an unlikely venue for such an instrument was likely influenced by Arthur Scott Brook, at the time the New York City representative for the firm. Brook, a bit of a slippery character was ultimately the Organ Inspector and Municipal Organist of the largest organ in the world at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City. He is credited with drafting the specification of the New London organ.

Murray Harris regained control of his former firm (Murray M. Harris) which had failed during the construction of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition instrument in 1914, reorganized again and failed, so this short-lived firm was successors to the Murray M. Harris and the Johnson Organ Co. and was in business briefly for a year or so before failing again and reorganizing-- likely as the California Organ Co. The firm is known to have only built a couple organs during this period. The organ for New London was a sizeable 3-manual organ with electro-pneumatic action, and it is very likely that Harris was still using the solid Fleming ventil chests the original Harris firm, developed ca. 1911. The organ was either destroyed or severely damaged by a fire on December 3, 1926 that began in the 'organ blower room behind the organ', heavily damaged the church interior, and was declared to have been electrical in nature. The refurbished sanctuary contained a new 1928 Austin. The building dates from 1868, and was sold to a praise band congregation in 2011.