Gilbert Combination Square Piano-Harmonium: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This combination square piano-harmonium was made by Timothy Gilbert in Boston, Massachusetts about 1855. The harmonium, or reed organ, is mounted beneath the piano cabinet and shares the same keyboard as the piano. This instrument is serial number 5327 (piano) and serial number AE1803 (harmonium), has a compass of FF-a4, an English double action, felt hammers, double-strings throughout, 1 hand stop: silencing hammers, 4 pedals: harmonium swell, piano dampers, piano moderator, and harmonium pump, full iron frame, and a rosewood (?) case.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1848-1852
• maker: Timothy Gilbert & Co.
• Object Name: piano/melodeon
• Object Name: piano/harmonium
• place made: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
• ID Number: MI.394259
• catalog number: 394259
• accession number: 212305
• Credit Line: Mrs. Louis R. de Steiguer
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.