My New (Old) Toy

 
Farrand & Votey Parlor Organ
I have wanted one of these for a very long time.  There was an antique dealer in the little town where I grew up that had one and I used to go in and play it.  I don't remember what kind it was, it I ever knew.  Most of the ones I have seen since are in some state of disrepair and are usually dark colored. 
My daughter ran across this one in an antique/junk store where she lives.  (That makes my purchase all her fault, by the way... that's what I told her Daddy, anyway)  Nothing would do but I had to go look at it.  Once I played the thing, I was sunk.  It isn't perfect, but close.  It plays, none of the keys are dead and, while a bit wheezy, the bellows are intact.  There is a tag in the back that says it was last tuned in 1928.
A little research revealed the manufacture date on this to be between 1887 and 1897.  Not hard to nail down, since that is all the longer the company was in existence.  I don't know who had this for all these years, but this was a much loved instrument.  The pedals are worn on the edges from being pumped.  
The cabinet is perfect and the carving and workmanship is amazing.  Aside from being a musical instrument, it is a grand piece of furniture from a more genteel era.