My old harmonium

I saw the picture in a Facebook fleemarket group. A white coloured harmonium, with the text "Simplify" painted in the front it. The original colour is of the instrument is dark brown. 

People give away a lot of things they don´t need. And you can find things you need from these groups for free.

Did I need a harmonium? Not as far as I know. 

For some unknown reason I told, that I will come and pick it up. The harmonium was pretty heavy, so it was a little project to get it home. 

I love stories. And every old item has a story. The owner of the harmonium had passed away, and the house where it was had new owners. It looks like nobody has been playing it for a long time.

Well, here it is now. In the corner next to my electric piano.

I had to find out where it comes from. The label says "Halonen ja kumpp, Jyväskylä".

Some history

The harmonium has been made in Brother´s Halonen reed organ (harmonium) factory in Jyväskylä. The factory was built in 1910. The building is designed by the other founder of the factory, Antti Halonen. His brother, Aapeli Halonen was the harmonium builder. Aapeli Halonen lived upstairs in the building with his family, leading the factory until his death 1928. His son, Seppo continued with the work. Harmonium production ended in 1960s.

Aapeli Halonen also made picture frames for his brother, painter Pekka Halonen

The musicians (for example Oskar Merikanto and P.J. Hannikainen) liked the sound of the harmoniums from Brother´s Halonen. 

There is nowadays a restaurant in the old building, Restaurant Harmooni

Maybe a place to visit next time in Jyväskylä.