DESCRIPTION:
Introducing the newly restored circa 1873 John Jackson and Co. Reed organ. It has just had an extensive restoration and rebuilding. There are only a few more things to do, such as finish the music desk, clean up the top and install treadle mats.

Jackson made organs in Guelph Ontario Canada, he also had other imported (either cases or cases and action) and rebranded with his name on them. This particular instrument was likely made by Shoninger in the USA.

A feature with this organ is the "Automatic Swell" where I decided to play this expressive hymn without using the knee swell. The swell (or volume control in basic terms) is connected to the reservoir, which varies by the amount that the treadles are used. It can be easily disengaged if the musician wants to, or it can be used in combination with the knee swell.

The organ itself has only 2 ranks of reeds, one 8ft Diapason and one 4ft Principal. The front is stamped "Cremona and Celeste Organ", which is misleading because this organ does not have any of those - that label was a trade mark for Jackson. For more information and pictures, visit:

http://www.rodneyjantzi.com/johnjackson/index.htm

The hymn I am playing is called "In the Sweet by-and-By", words written by Sanford Fillmore Bennett and music by Joseph P. Webster, published in 1868. I thought this hymn was fitting for this organ since the hymn was very new when this organ was made over 140 years ago.

Sankey described the composition of the hymn in his autobiography:

Mr. Webster, like many musicians, was of an exceedingly nervous and sensitive nature, and subject to periods of depression, in which he looked upon the dark side of all things in life. I had learned his peculiarities so well that on meeting him I could tell at a glance if he was melancholy, and had found that I could rouse him up by giving him a new song to work on.
He came into my place of business [in Elkhorn, Wisconsin], walked down to the stove, and turned his back on me without speaking. I was at my desk. Turning to him, I said, "Webster, what is the matter now?" "It's no matter," he replied, "it will be all right by and by." The idea of the hymn came me like a flash of sunlight, and I replied, "The Sweet By and By! Why would not that make a good hymn?" "Maybe it would," he said indifferently. Turning to my desk I penned the words of the hymn as fast as I could write. I handed the words to Webster. As he read his eyes kindled, and stepping to the desk he began writing the notes. Taking his violin, he played the melody and then jotted down the notes of the chorus. It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn.