Andover Organ Company

The Andover Organ Company was founded in 1948 as a direct result of the Andover Organ Institute, a summer school located on the campus of Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. The Institute served to reintroduce the mechanical or tracker action organ into the United States. The company began modestly by maintaining and rebuilding some of the old tracker organs as well as organs with other types of actions. As the company expanded, so did the organ reform movement, and in 1959 Andover built one of the first completely new tracker organs by a native firm since Henry Pilcher stopped building trackers in the 1930's.

Since 1959, Andover has dealt almost exclusively with the tracker organ, building new instruments and rebuilding and restoring older instruments.

Andover was one of the first companies to begin saving the old eighteenth and nineteenth century organs. We have become experts in the restoration of organs of many builders, but particularly those of the Boston School of Organbuilding. Our new and rebuilt or restored instruments are located throughout the United States.

Currently the company has 23 employees. Along with building, rebuilding and restorations, we maintain more than 300 old and new tracker organs yearly throughout New England, New York State, New Jersey, Virginia and the Carolinas. Production is usually two new organs a year plus several rebuilds, tonal revisions and restorations. We have a reputation for quality work and meticulous craftsmanship. Our employees are dedicated and committed to the fine art of organbuilding.

Donald Olson, president, is one of the founders of The American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO) and gave a seminar at its initial convention. He recently chaired the committee for the October 2001 AIO Convention in Boston. In addition, he is a member of Organ Historical Society, and the American Guild of Organists. Other Andover employees are also members of the AIO, the OHS and the AGO. Andover Organ Company is a member of the International Society of Organbuilders (ISO) and served, with four other area organbuilders, as organizer and host for the 1991 International Convention. It is also a member of the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), American Institute of Organbuilders and the Organ Historical Society.

A Brief History of AOC

		The Andover Organ Company was founded in 1948 as a direct result of the Andover Organ Institute, a summer school located on the campus of Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. The Institute served to reintroduce the mechanical or tracker action organ into the United States. The company began modestly by maintaining and rebuilding some of the old tracker organs as well as organs with other types of actions. As the company expanded, so did the organ reform movement, and in 1959 Andover built one of the first completely new tracker organs by a native firm since Henry Pilcher stopped building trackers in the 1930's. Since 1959, Andover has dealt almost exclusively with the tracker organ, building new instruments and rebuilding and restoring older instruments. Andover was one of the first companies to begin saving the old eighteenth and nineteenth century organs. We have become experts in the restoration of organs of many builders, but particularly those of the Boston School of Organbuilding. Our new and rebuilt or restored instruments are located throughout the United States. Currently the company has 23 employees. Along with building, rebuilding and restorations, we maintain more than 300 old and new tracker organs yearly throughout New England, New York State, New Jersey, Virginia and the Carolinas. Production is usually two new organs a year plus several rebuilds, tonal revisions and restorations. We have a reputation for quality work and meticulous craftsmanship. Our employees are dedicated and committed to the fine art of organbuilding. Donald Olson, president, is one of the founders of The American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO) and gave a seminar at its initial convention. He recently chaired the committee for the October 2001 AIO Convention in Boston. In addition, he is a member of Organ Historical Society, and the American Guild of Organists. Other Andover employees are also members of the AIO, the OHS and the AGO. Andover Organ Company is a member of the International Society of Organbuilders (ISO) and served, with four other area organbuilders, as organizer and host for the 1991 International Convention. It is also a member of the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA), American Institute of Organbuilders and the Organ Historical Society.