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Reed organs were developed almost simultaneously in Europe and the United States in the middle 19th century with harmoniums being the European mode with pressure bellows and peculiar stops of expression, etc. whereas the American organs as they became known to be called overseas, came to be known in the United States as "parlor organs"
The early organs were called melodeons, the very earliest and scarce ones called "lap organs". Melodeons had one pedal to pump attached by a rod to the horizontal exhauster inside the melodeon. Depending on how good the condition of the reservoir was, one could either pump like mad to keep the melodeon from "wheezing" too much or have the instrument redone with new bellows materials so one could play it without frantic pumping.
Melodeons were very attractive furniture pieces resembling small square grand pianos but much lighter, of course! Most were veneered with rosewood and came in various sizes, the smallest ones being more portable with folding, lyre legs in some models. The volume of sound was, needless to say, quite low since melodeons only as a rule had one set of reeds (one brass reed for each key if the melodeon had 61 notes.) Some had less. Other larger models like my Estey and Green were almost as large as a small square grand piano! Some like the Prince melodeons had two keyboards, something this collector would like to have. One is in Galena, Illinois at last check.
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