[ Editor's Note:
 [
 [ As more search engines find and catalog the MMD Website, I'm receiving
 [ (as webmaster) an ever increasing amount of e-mail.  Often its completely
 [ off the topic of the group.  Often the messages are "for sale" ads
 [ with so little information that it drives me nuts.  Sometimes, however,
 [ I get curious and correspond with the writer, even when its off topic.
 [ The messages below document such a correspondence.
 [
 [ I became interested because of the manufacturer's name and the instrument's
 [ age and history.  Is the implied age of this instrument consistent with
 [ the manufacturer's name  and function ?
 [
 [ I'm uncertain if Allen is trying to sell this or just learn more about
 [ it.  Perhaps one of our readers could forward this to the reed organ
 [ crowd's mailing list ?

First message received:

> Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 10:55:17 -0400
> From: allen wines mason <remedies@InfoAve.Net>
> Subject: mason and hamlin organ
> To: webmaster@foxtail.com
>
> I have a mason and hamlin organ very small in excellent condition dated
> by someone as 1849.It is in the original condition has not been painted
> and still plays.  You pump it with your feet.  An old aunt left it to me
> I have had it for 25 years.  Just thought I would let you know.
> Allen Mason

I replied:

>
> The "reed organ" crowd may be interested in this.  I'll see if I can
> find you a reference.  I'm _assuming_ that this is not a "self-playing organ" ?
>
> jody

Second message received

You are right it is not self playing. It is 29 inches high,  17 inches deep,
and 32 inches long. It is a Mason and Hamlin portable organ, probably
used by traveling preachers in the late 1800's.  I believe the wood is
walnut.  It has two pedals that you pump to make it play.  The keys look
like ivory but are turning yellow.  Inside some one wrote the date 1849,
I assumed that was when it was made.  It is very neat looking.  My wife
has it covered with nicknacks so I don`t get to play it much, she says
the noise drives her crazy.   I don`t play very well anyway

Thanks for your interest and I would like to hear more about it as I
have been trying for over 15 years to find out something about it.  I
didn't think that Mason and Hamlin was still in business.

Allen Mason
remedies@planttel.net

Time 5:20 Dublin, Georgia