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Author Topic: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."  (Read 19341 times)

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Rob2Hook

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #80 on: December 05, 2012, 03:11:43 PM »

- the term "melodeon is completely unknown.

I thought that in the USA a melodeon is what we in the UK call a harmonium - a pedal pumped free reed organ.

Rob.
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #81 on: December 05, 2012, 04:59:56 PM »

- the term "melodeon is completely unknown.

I thought that in the USA a melodeon is what we in the UK call a harmonium - a pedal pumped free reed organ.

Rob.

No. The Harmonium is a Victorian English machine. it is called an American organ by us Limeys
when in the states. The Americans call them Parlor (sic) organs, Cottage organs . They were extensively made in Britain and exported. They were ideal for outposts in the States in the early settlement days, small chapels etc. even the local Blacksmith could repair one. There are two types one, the Harmonium uses a suction system to put air through the reeds and two,the "American" organ uses pressure, the two are interchangeable depending on the maker.
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Steve_freereeder

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #82 on: December 05, 2012, 05:31:29 PM »

There are two types one, the Harmonium uses a suction system to put air through the reeds and two,the "American" organ uses pressure....
Actually it's the other way round.
See here...
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YorkieKen

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #83 on: December 05, 2012, 06:58:08 PM »

Just read your link Steve....interesting reference regarding 'cat melodeon', A common term used in Ireland for something awful. Blooming cheek !  >:(
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AirTime

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #84 on: December 05, 2012, 07:04:30 PM »

Well, nobody (almost) in the US would have any idea what a melodeon (aka American reed organ) is either!

In my unscientific survey conducted on my last visit to England, nobody I asked - & we're talking about well-educated people, including some with considerable musical training - was sure what the term "melodeon" referred to. Mostly, they assumed it was some  organ-like (harmonium) thingy.

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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #85 on: December 05, 2012, 08:53:43 PM »

There are two types one, the Harmonium uses a suction system to put air through the reeds and two,the "American" organ uses pressure....
Actually it's the other way round.
See here...

Very interesting article Steve but don't believe everything you read in Wikipedia. I've had a Harmonium for years and I can tell you it sucks! If you see what I mean.
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Steve_freereeder

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #86 on: December 06, 2012, 12:54:08 AM »

There are two types one, the Harmonium uses a suction system to put air through the reeds and two,the "American" organ uses pressure....
Actually it's the other way round.
See here...

Very interesting article Steve but don't believe everything you read in Wikipedia. I've had a Harmonium for years and I can tell you it sucks! If you see what I mean.
Then what you have is an American organ and not a harmonium. In our family we also have an old Estey American Organ and it definitely sucks air through the reeds.

I am aware of the need to be cautious when using Wikipedia, thanks very much. I tell my students this all the time. Here are some more on-line sources of information. I have nevertheless included two final Wikipedia entries, additional to the earlier one I quoted, which also corroborate the suckiness of American Organs and the blowiness of Harmoniums.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/American+organ
http://www.pumporganrestorations.com/pump_organ_information.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/374052/melodeon
http://www.nzorgan.com/vandr/humble-relations.htm
http://www.reedsoc.org/Repair/introduction.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEk8mfVpJ40    (go to 2:25)
http://eccs.onu.edu/~estell/organs/whatis.html
http://www.harmoniums.com/hist_en.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_organ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonium

Hope that is enough to be getting on with. I suggest you conduct your own research if you still want to pursue the matter.
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: "The difference between a melodeon and an accordion is..."
« Reply #87 on: December 06, 2012, 07:58:38 AM »

I stand corrected Steve, and to think all those years of misnaming my machine.
You learn a bit more every day
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Has anyone heard of the song. “ Broken Alarm-clock Blues” ? It starts   “I woke up this Afternoon”
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