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Holtkamp Pipe Organ ("Portative"): Museum Object and Cultural History

Holtkamp Pipe Organ ("Portative"): date made: 1934-1936. maker: Holtkamp, Jr., Walter. Object Name: organ.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

The object in the museum catalogue

This organ was made by Walter Holtkamp in Cleveland, Ohio, around 1934-1936. It has a single keyboard, with a compass of G - g3. The organ's disposition is as follows:

This little chamber organ of three stops may be the first mechanical-action organ to be made in an American shop in modern times, although it is not known for sure that Holtkamp made the windchest. It is thought to be the first of approximately seven such instruments made in 1935 and 1936, and apparently remained in the Holtkamp shop until its acquisition by the Smithsonian, in 1981.

Materials, dates and provenance

  • date made: 1934-1936
  • maker: Holtkamp, Jr., Walter
  • Object Name: organ
  • Physical Description: wood (overall material)
  • Physical Description: metal (overall material)
  • Measurements: overall: 91 1/2 in x 65 in x 35 in; 232.41 cm x 165.1 cm x 88.9 cm
  • place made: United States: Ohio, Cleveland
  • ID Number: 1981.0014.01
  • accession number: 1981.0014
  • catalog number: 1981.0014.01
  • Credit Line: Gift of Holtkamp Organ Co.
  • 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.

Sources

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