Mansfield Organ Pipe Works Records

Collection

Identifier: 1986-0005

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This small collection is of interest as it provides insights into not only local history and social relationships, but business development in Eastern Connecticut as well. It is of special interest to the music historian since it reveals the detail and scope of the organ manufacturing industry in the area. There is specific information about organs and organ parts; their kind, size, manufacture, function, use, and material composition. For the social scientist or the business historian, the business transactions reveal interpersonal relationships and business enterprise, including employment concerns, complaints about products and services, methods of introducing new processes and products, and availability of goods and services. For the art historian there are many fine examples of letterheads typical of the period. Some materials are water damaged and stained, but legible.

Dates

undated, 1881-1934

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

History

The Mansfield Organ Pipe Works remained the sole manufacturer of metal-toed organ pipe feet in the world until around 1979, when the process was taken over by the Organ Supply Company of Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company traces its origins to Erastus McCollum and his sons Julian and Henry. Along with Selcon McCollum, Erastus' brother, they built a church organ in their barn in Rockville, Connecticut. Parts, including both wood and metal pipes, were turned out in Erastus' workroom. By 1821, they were advertising as organ builders and rebuilders in the Hartford directory. Their largest accomplishment was the Brewster Hall organ in New Haven in 1850.

Later, the firm known as McCollum Brothers, began to specialize in making wooden pipes and other wooden organ parts such as stoppers, trackers, rack pins, and pipe feet. Probably no complete organs were made by the company after 1850, for Boston and New York had taken over that end of the industry. By 1871, they had moved to Mansfield Depot, Connecticut, and become the Mansfield Organ Pipe Works.

Fenelon C. McCollum, a cousin, managed the company from 1889 until 1925. It was he who invented the metal-toed wooden pipe foot and patented it in 1890. At that time, the firm, employing twenty workers, developed mass production techniques and patented many improvements. After the 1920s, the company specialized still further by making only pipe feet and small organ parts.

Extent

4 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Mansfield Organ Pipe Works remained the sole manufacturer of metal-toed organ pipe feet in the world until around 1979. The company traces its origins to Erastus McCollum and his sons Julian and Henry.

Arrangement

The collection 1881-1934 is divided into two series:

Series I: Business Records (undated, 1881-1907) contains Printed Materials (advertising and product description in the form of catalogues, brochures, flyers, and price lists), Legal and Financial Documents (contracts, accounts, and records of transactions), Correspondence (correspondence carried on with other organ builders, as well as orders for materials, tools, and equipment),

Orders (containing actual lists of parts yielding specific information about kinds, sizes, and quantities of materials available and in use at the time), Credit Ratings, Bills, Receipts, and Rockville National Bank (cash receipts 1887- 1900), and bank deposit record books (1893-1901).

Series II: Personal Papers (undated, 1886-1934) provide an interesting counterpoint to the business records. Section one, Accounts, contains McCollum household and personal shopping lists and bills. Section two, Letters, includes various notices, invitations, and letters. Section three, Children's, consists of one folder of drawings and stories written by and for children.

Custodial History

The collection was given to the Mansfield Historical Society in 1985 by the McCollum family.

Acquisition Information

The records were given to the University of Connecticut in 1986.

Subjects

Administrative records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Advertisements Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Catalogs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Connecticut (state) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Financial records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Fliers (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Mansfield Depot (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Organ (Musical instrument) Subject Source: Fast
Organ pipes Subject Source: Fast
Publications (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Rockville (Conn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings