Antique Pump Organ Appraisal By Mark Moran [PICTURES]

little pump organs like the one pictured here from an area resident, were often used for home entertainment, or by small, rural religious congregations in the mid- to late 19th century.Usually made of walnut, some had tall and elaborate "gingerbread" carvings, mirrors and gilt or burl decoration.

Today, many of these organs are in need of repair, especially to the bellows which pump the air, or to the "stops". An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" (admitting the passage of air to certain pipes), while others can be "off" (stopping the passage of air to certain pipes).

The keys are often made of ivory and ebony. The value of these organs today? ...We'll be discussing that on todays Antique Road Show with Mark Moran, at 10:15am on "It Matters...With Kelly Cordes."