reed-organ

Originally, a small portable organ called the regal, or a pair of regals (if it had 2 pipes for each digital). This small instr. which could sometimes be folded up like a book or Bible [hence Bibel-regall (bé’-bél-ra’-gil)], employed beating reeds, in the pipes. In 1810 Grénié inv. what he called the orgue expre if, because he could swell and diminish the tone. In 1843, Debain developed the Harmonium, whick po e ed several stops. The air pre ure is usually applied by pedals worked by treadles; with levers, worked by the knees, to produce a swell. The American Organ (q.v.) employed a suction mechanism. The Vocalion returns to the harmonium style with elaborate improvements. There are many other instrs. which differ chiefly in name from the typical reed-organ.