Mailbag: “Out of the Ashes”

September 6, 2012

Dear Michael,

I just noticed that the 100 year old Wicks Organ Co. has stopped building pipe organs. I also noticed they had started building generic "bargain basement" organs which is usually a sign of financial problems. Was it financial problems that drove Wicks out of business? Are their repair and rebuild modes still operating? Its a shame that so many fine organ companies have gone out of business such as Midmer-Losh, Moller, Aeolian-Skinner, Walker, Wicks, Wurlitzer, ETC . Some of them built the greatest organs we still have. But it does seem that some new new organ compamies have started up to follow in their footsteps. This is a good thing.

Paul E. Haiges, Jr.

Dear Paul,

They began downsizing about two years ago, though are still very much in business. Wicks now concentrates on 'hybrid' instruments (pipe-electronic combos), but will build anything a client wants.
A downturn in the market has had impact on all builders (Fisk has barely a year backlog...it used to be five or six). But, yes, there are new, young companies spring up in place of those that close.

JMB

 

 

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