Midmer–Losh Organ Company

Midmer–Losh Organ Company was an American pipe-organ building business whose operations were associated first with Brooklyn and later with Merrick, New York. Its origins date to 1860, when Reuben Midmer established an organ-building company in Brooklyn. The enterprise became a family business: Reuben's son Reed joined the shop at the age of fourteen and eventually assumed responsibility for its operation. Around 1875, the firm adopted the name Reuben Midmer & Son, reflecting Reed's growing role. After Reuben Midmer died, Reed acquired the business from his father's estate. In 1906, he relocated the shop from Brooklyn to Merrick on Long Island. The move placed the company in a period of expanding American church, civic, and entertainment construction, when pipe organs were commissioned for religious institutions, public halls, and theatres. The firm was among the builders that supplied theatre organs during the silent-film era, producing 42 such instruments according to the available historical account. A major change in ownership occurred in 1920, when brothers Seibert Losh and George Losh acquired the Midmer & Son firm. Seibert had previously served as the New York representative of the M. P. Moller organ company. The business adopted the name Midmer–Losh Organ Company in 1924. Seibert's tenure in company leadership ended in May 1932, when he was terminated by the firm and Otto Strack became president. The company's most prominent surviving legacy is the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1932, the instrument was built with more than 33,000 pipes and a seven-manual console, making it the largest pipe organ in the world by the cited measure. The organ's condition was later affected by flooding, neglect, and renovations to Boardwalk Hall; some portions became inoperable and entered renovation efforts. The instrument remains closely identified with the company's engineering and manufacturing achievement, even though its restoration has been prolonged. Another surviving Midmer–Losh instrument is located at the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, Connecticut. That organ was built at approximately the same period as the Atlantic City instrument and has roughly 30 ranks and slightly more than 2,000 pipes. Foley-Baker Inc. completed reconditioning work on it in 1999, and the instrument is described as fully operational and reconditioned. Midmer–Losh is therefore remembered less as a continuing consumer-facing brand than as a historic American organ builder whose surviving instruments document the scale and variety of early twentieth-century pipe-organ production.

Midmer–Losh Organ Company grew out of the Brooklyn organ-building business founded by Reuben Midmer in 1860. Reuben's son Reed entered the workshop as a teenager and later became its principal operator. Around 1875, the business was renamed Reuben Midmer & Son, signaling Reed's formal place in the firm. Following Reuben's death, Reed purchased the company from the estate and continued the family operation. In 1906, Reed moved the shop from Brooklyn to Merrick, New York. The company operated during a period when pipe organs were commissioned for churches, theatres, auditoriums, and other public venues. Its production included theatre organs used during the silent-film era; the historical record attributes 42 theatre organs to the company. These instruments formed part of the broader development of theatre entertainment before sound films displaced many silent-film presentation practices. The ownership structure changed in 1920, when brothers Seibert Losh and George Losh acquired the Midmer & Son firm. Seibert brought experience from his earlier work as the New York representative of the M. P. Moller organ company. In 1924, the acquired business adopted the Midmer–Losh Organ Company name. Seibert was terminated by the company in May 1932, after which Otto Strack became president. The company's defining project was the organ for the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1932, it contained more than 33,000 pipes operated through a seven-manual console. It is identified in the available reference material as the world's largest pipe organ. The instrument later suffered from flooding, neglect, and building renovations. As a result, sections became inoperable and renovation work was undertaken, although the organ's full restoration has been a long-term challenge. A smaller but important surviving example is the Midmer–Losh organ at the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, Connecticut. Built around the same period as the Atlantic City instrument, it has approximately 30 ranks and slightly more than 2,000 pipes. Foley-Baker Inc. completed its reconditioning in 1999, and the organ is described as fully operational. Together, the Atlantic City and Ansonia instruments illustrate the company's ability to produce both exceptionally large auditorium organs and substantial church instruments. The company is now defunct. Its historical significance rests on its surviving instruments, its role in American theatre-organ production, and the technical and organizational achievement represented by the Boardwalk Hall organ. Publicly available source material does not establish a precise closure year, a complete catalog of all instruments, or a later corporate successor.

• 1999

  Ansonia organ reconditioning is completed

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Foley-Baker Inc. completed reconditioning work on the Midmer–Losh organ at the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, Connecticut.

• 1932

  Boardwalk Hall organ is inaugurated

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company-built Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ in Atlantic City was inaugurated. The instrument has more than 33,000 pipes and a seven-manual console.

• 1924

  The Midmer–Losh name is adopted

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The business changed its name to Midmer–Losh Organ Company after the Losh brothers' acquisition.

• 1920

  The Losh brothers acquire the firm

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Seibert Losh and George Losh acquired the Midmer & Son business.

• 1906

  The shop moves to Merrick

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  After Reed Midmer acquired the business from his father's estate, he relocated the operation from Brooklyn to Merrick, New York.

• 1875

  The firm becomes Reuben Midmer & Son

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Around this time, Reuben Midmer's son Reed had joined the workshop and the company adopted the name Reuben Midmer & Son.

• 1860

  Reuben Midmer establishes the business

  [1]Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Reuben Midmer founded an organ-building company in Brooklyn, New York, establishing the business that later became Midmer–Losh Organ Company.

A historic American builder of custom pipe organs, including large-scale theatre, church, and auditorium instruments.

• Entertainment organs

  Theatre organs

  Midmer–Losh built 42 theatre organs during the era of silent films. These instruments were designed for venues where organ music accompanied screenings and other theatrical presentations. They represent an important part of the company's production beyond church and civic commissions, although the available source does not provide a complete list of venues or surviving examples.

• Auditorium pipe organ · 1932

  Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ

  Built for Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this is the company's best-known instrument. It was inaugurated in 1932 and has more than 33,000 pipes controlled from a seven-manual console. Flooding, neglect, and later building renovations left portions inoperable, leading to continuing renovation efforts.

• Church pipe organ

  Church of the Assumption organ

  The Midmer–Losh organ at the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, Connecticut, was built at approximately the same period as the Atlantic City instrument. It has roughly 30 ranks and slightly more than 2,000 pipes. Foley-Baker Inc. completed reconditioning in 1999, and the instrument is described as fully operational.

• 1924

  Adoption of the Midmer–Losh identityStrategy

  Background

  Seibert and George Losh had acquired the earlier Midmer & Son firm in 1920.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to Midmer–Losh Organ Company, combining the established Midmer identity with the Losh owners' name.

  Aftermath

  The new name became associated with the company's later theatre, church, and auditorium organs, including the Boardwalk Hall instrument.

  Source

1. 1Midmer–Losh Organ Companyen.wikipedia.org