Reuter Organ Company

Who are they?

• The Reuter Organ Company, established in 1917, produces musical instruments that utilize wind moving through pipes to produce sounds. 

Product & Services:

• Custom built organs that typically range from $500,000-$2,000,000. 
• Reuter renovates and rebuilds organs as well as any upgrading requested by the customer.

Markets:

• Churches
• Colleges/Universities
• Concert Halls
• Private residence

Materials:

• Pipes more than 4 feet long.
• Copper or Zinc: These two metals make the best sounds while providing structural stability.The copper and zinc is ordered by Reuter on large rolls in one long sheet.
• Pipes under 4 feet long.
• Lead and Tin (50/50 mixture): Large solid blocks of lead and tin are used to create the amount of mixture needed.
• Reuter uses upper wards of 12,000 lbs of lead and tin every year.
• Reservoir, wind-chest and box of frame of keyboard.
• Wood: Poplar, maple, walnut, oak and birch- The type of wood used depends on the amount of money the customer has in their budget and the style they desire.  Any knots in the wood must be removed and patched due to the characteristic of air being able to pass easily through.
• Keyboard Keys
• Bone, plastic and wood:  The style of key has no bearing on the musical quality.  The material used is purely cosmetic and physical.

Forming Technologies:

•  All of the wood used in the production or rebuilding of the organs Reuter works on is bought in bulk plank lengths and milled in house.
•  After being cut to length the metal that is to make up the pipe is rolled around a die to obtain the proper cylindrical form.
• To make sheets of lead/tin for the smaller pipes, blocks are melted down to a liquid and poured over a flat stone table to cool and form a single flat sheet of alloy metal that is the desired size to form the correct pipe for the organ.
• To form the toe of the pipe the sheet metal is hammered around an anvil that provides a stencil to create the proper shape and size.

 

Cutting Technologies:

• To achieve the most accurate, repeatable and least errors, a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machine.  This machine also gives them the ability to create a lot of more fancy designs for the customer while keeping more of the process in house.

Joining Technologies:

• Welding: After the pieces of the pipe are rolled and formed to the desired size and shape, they are welded together to created a connected cylindrical shape.

Finishing Technologies:

• The parts can be painted, polished or have a finish applied to alter the desired look of the product.
• In addition to painting, the copper can also me heat treated to temper the metal and give a "flame" effect on the metal.
• To finalize and seal any effect, a clear lacquer finish is applied.

Overall Impressions:

• It is very impressive that Reuter takes every opportunity to make and construct as many parts as possible in house.
• Though some of the process has evolved to incorporate computerized controlled tools, much of the process is still completed by hand using basic tools.