Melodeon
Simeon Taylor formed a partnership with John A. Farley in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1855 or 1856. Taylor had previously been employed in the piano factory of Deacon Timothy Gilbert. He had an innovative mind and received six organ-related patents dated between 1866 and 1870. Before the partnership began, Farley was a reed maker in Concord, before establishing himself in Worcester. His first position there was working for the woodworker John Pearson, and the tuner, Milton Morse. (American Musical Instruments in The Metropolitan Museum, Laurence Libin, 1985, p. 199).
Technidal description: Rectangular mahogany case on four curved legs with scroll feet, hinged lid with fallboard and scrollwork music stand; round-edged ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, compass FF-f3 (61 keys); hinged casing surrounding keyboard swings up and back; right angled wooden piece on two pegs directly behind keyboard, running length of keyboard and tapering away from the keys toward the upper end of compass, which directs sound outward; bellows behind this, and underneath it the reserve; lyre under instrument with two steel pedals, the right operating the bellows, the left operating a swell shutter through a series of levers to a cloth-hinged wooden shutter underneath the keyboard; brass free reeds beneath keyboard and pallet box with U-shaped holders set ends down; reeds operated by suction.
Technidal description: Rectangular mahogany case on four curved legs with scroll feet, hinged lid with fallboard and scrollwork music stand; round-edged ivory naturals, ebony accidentals, compass FF-f3 (61 keys); hinged casing surrounding keyboard swings up and back; right angled wooden piece on two pegs directly behind keyboard, running length of keyboard and tapering away from the keys toward the upper end of compass, which directs sound outward; bellows behind this, and underneath it the reserve; lyre under instrument with two steel pedals, the right operating the bellows, the left operating a swell shutter through a series of levers to a cloth-hinged wooden shutter underneath the keyboard; brass free reeds beneath keyboard and pallet box with U-shaped holders set ends down; reeds operated by suction.
Artwork Details
- Title: Melodeon
- Maker: Taylor & Farley
- Date: 1867
- Geography: Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Wood, various materials
- Dimensions: Instr. 122cm x 62cm x 82cm (includes legs, should stay attached)
- Classification: Aerophone-Free Reed
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Russell Law, 1945
- Object Number: 45.54
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Thomas Appleton
1830
American
1848–53
Henry Sibley
1840
Elbridge G. Wright
ca. 1845
Caleb Packard
ca. 1843
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.