The Allen Organ Company gratefully acknowledges the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) for their 2016 PCN Tour production of the Allen Organ Factory Tour segments and the Jerome Markowitz Memorial Museum Tour. Used with permission.
This is awesome. I am not an organist but I simply adore the pipe organ and its music, especially the classical and religious pieces. This tour has been a real eye opener and it has helped me to better appreciate the hard work and dedication that it takes to build these majestic sounding instruments. God has indeed blessed man with talent and inspiration as no one else can. May He continue to bless Allen Organs and their wonderful service to mankind.
I am so happy to see this wonderful presentation for more reasons than one. First of all I am a big fan of the Allen Organ. I worked for Taylor Piano and Organ Co. in Rochester N.Y. in the 60s and 70s and the Allen was one of our products. Clayton Taylor played many dedication services for the Allen Organ, and I didn't miss a one. Thank you for putting this together in such a professional presentation. Wishing you continued success.
What amazes me that Allen organs today are still manufactured in America. Sadly, Lowrey instruments are made in another country for cheap labor and still the most expensive Lowrey instruments. I would love to visit this museum and hopefully the main factory as I work in electronic manufacturing in Nashville, Tennessee.
Very impressive,...Allen DEFINITELY cares about the quality of the product all the way through! A LOT of work goes into building the organ,..from electronic assemblies to the wood finishing,and final assembly,..not to mention testing! No production shortcuts here,people! What is even more impressive is that you STILL support organs made 70 years ago,..that is long term customer support. All the more reason to choose Allen,..and STAY with Allen!
Excellent Video! I love the attention paid to detail. It's rare to get that kind of detail and for the cameraman to hold a shot for such length of time giving the viewer the ability to really study the process and take in the quality of workmanship that goes into the product. I sound like I work for the company..... I don't. I was simply scrolling You Tube, came across this video, gave it a brief view and couldn't stop till I had viewed the whole thing. Too bad I am not in the market for an organ. I'd certainly support you guys. Two thumbs up for the host and you're ability to get across to the viewer the complete process of building your product and our understanding it! And finally to the CEO for giving the OK to make the video as I'm sure it would not have happened without out your John Hancock. Thanks Guys !
Thanks, Barry. Great tour! My church has an old Allen from the early 1980's and it's time for an upgrade. I will show our committee this video so they can get a sense of the quality and care that goes into building the instrument.
Great video tour of the museum and factory. Our church has an old Allen from the late 70s and it is time for an upgrade. I do enjoy playing it but maybe when they finish the remodel of the sanctuary we could upgrade our Allen...I can dream at least. Thanks for the excellent video. Marvin Webster/Canyon Lake Community, California
This has been one of the best tours I ever seen online. as good as it gets. If I lived close I would beg you for employment there I love the quality and the love of the product within the company. I bet you are very nice to work for. I would love to know. Merry Christmas
Excellent Explanations, and good Film. And while indeed money is ALWAYS a problem, more often then not SPACE and PLACE for a pipe organ is even more a problem....
Great video showcasing a great company. Would love to work there. A field or repair tech would be my dream job. Curious to know how Covid has affected this company.
The tour was extremely interesting and informative. The degree of very high tech machinery involved in the various stages of manufacture was something I had not known , and i was surprised to find some of it from Italy, etc. I did wonder why the fellow applying a finish coat to the wood using a powered sprayer wasn't wearing a protective mask. Also, the noise level in the factory being quite high, does every worker wear ear muffs or ear plugs? Is there any agent present that could negatively impact the vocal cords? Strangely enough, following a tour back in the 1990's, within days my cords suffered paralysis, ending my singing and radio announcing career to this day. Never solved at five major voice clinics, so I have always suspected (perhaps erroneously) a bizarre connection. I have enjoyed reading Mr. Markowitz's book on the history of Allen, and I thought your portion dealing with the Rockwell adventure very gracious and detailed. Thanks for time well spent. I grew up in Rochester, NY, and have spent half my life in east Tennessee. -rw
Ronald, thank you for watching our Factory Tour. I will try to answer your questions one at a time. The Finishing Department's booths all have one entire end wall in each booth that is filtered out. You can see all the filters behind the console as he sprays the finish, and he sprays in the direction of the filters. There are only a few areas where ear protection is required as most of the other areas of the factory are quiet. Our Woodworking department CNC saw operators do wear hearing protection, both ear plugs and muffs, plus eye protection. There is no agent present that could impact vocal cords. We have employees that have been here 30-50 years with no problems. I hope this helps!
Great inventor great company builds magnificent musical artist instruments utilizing hardwood butcher block construction w/steel protecting advanced electronics equivalent to 30 computers!
Allen's factory Manager replies: Changing the belt varies. It depends what we are sanding, speed and desired finish. No cut or dry answers. We change it regularly from one grit to another. The belts are hung and reused until they no longer serve their purpose.
Holy Cow,...if that were a REAL pipe organ,..and you had 50 speaking stops at a cost of $12,000.00 a stop,...you're looking at $600,000.00! How do churches afford a pipe organ of that size? Strong arguement to go digital!
Although it depends on many factors, of course, the high-end pipe organ builders now average the "high twenties" per rank... more reason to get an Allen since a million $ doesn't buy a particularly large pipe organ today!
