>On Thu, 5 Nov 1998 18:57:40 EST, Jerry in Seattle <[log in to unmask]>
>ponders the question:
>
>> I'm curious, which pipe organ builders are union shops?
 
D.W. Karn in Woodstock Ontario was unionized back around the turn of the
century. I believe it was something like the "Pipe Organ Workers Union of
America" or some such similar name. There is a sticker on the casework of
Erskine Presbyterian Church in Hamilton Ontario boasting about "This organ
was Union made". Karn employed over 240 people at the turn of the century
and they went belly up around the time of First World War. A number of old
timers told me that it was problems with the union that finished this very
fine company. This would also explain much of why the company went by so
many different names and owners later on ( Karn-Warren, Karn-Morris,
Warren, J. G. Webb, Woodstock Pipe Organ Company, Woodstock Pipe Organ
Builders, Etc. ) some names of which were used at the same time and
companies which were in the same building but had different owners but the
same workmen. Problems with union and management were extremely common and
very violent in all businesses back then.
 
The simple fact that most pipe organ companies now consist of fewer than 10
employees  and most are owner operators makes forming a union rather silly.
( how do you go on strike against yourself?). from what I gather ( and I
may be all wet here) the largest companies in North America  are Peterson,
Organ Supply  Industries and Reuter. Each has under 80 people total.
 
 
By the way my company has 2 people working full time and a fully retired
but still stuck working daily receptionist -cook (mom)
Nelson E. Denton -The Pipe Organ Tracker Project, The worlds  largest
collection of organ related links
http://www.freeyellow.com/members/radentonson -
http://members.xoom.com/radentonson  & Canadian Musical Instrument
Heritage. http://www.freeyellow.com/members4/cmih -
http://members.xoom.com/cmih
 
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