“Pedestal Leg” Gem

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Style	“Pedestal Leg” Gem
Air supply	Twin Single-acting Pressure
Dimensions	12 x 11-1/2 x 7 inches
Mfg Years	circa 1884-1886
Additional	exposed feeder bellows

One of the earliest Gem style production models was the “pedestal leg” Gem Roller Organ. Quite simplistic and innovative in design, both the pressure bellows on the bottom and the reservoir on the top were entirely visible, keeping costs of assembly to a minimum. Four turned legs elevated the body to give clearance for the action of the lower bellows. The pressure system was composed of two interconnected single-acting feeder bellows, operated from the crank via a connecting rod, and a reservoir, compressed by an internal leaf spring. The air flowed directly from the feeders into the reservoir past leather flap valves. On the right side, a round hole provided a relief valve to alleviate excess pressure which might damage the bellows. This basic bellows design would be continued through all Gem models, changing only slightly as vacuum was introduced, and as the relief valve position was changed. Even the flower stencil on the valve board remained constant. The base platform of this model was slightly smaller than later Gem Roller Organ models, measuring only about 12 inches in width and 11-1/2 inches in depth. It is interesting that one of these early styles is found in Germany with a stencil reading “Methodisten-Leier”, which roughly translates as “Methodist Barrel Organ”, probably reflecting its use for accompanying church hymns. A very early export!