Pipe organs a five-generation tradition for Mullers

CROTON – Not many people can say they help build pipe organs for a living, but John Muller can.

In fact, he’s the fourth generation of his family that has worked in the pipe organ business, dating all the way back to the early 1900s.

The Muller Pipe Organ Company got its start with Joseph Muller, John Muller’s great-grandfather. Joseph was a cabinetmaker employed by Ernest Skinner, who is considered one of the most successful American pipe organ builders of the early 20th century.

The skills and passion Joseph Muller had for the organ business were passed down from generation to generation. His son, Henry Muller, followed in his father’s footsteps and went to work for Skinner, where he advanced to the position of principal installation foreman.

While Henry was traveling the country installing pipe organs for Skinner he met a man in Toledo who was looking to sell his company. So he decided to go out on his own and opened the Muller Pipe Organ Co. in 1919.

At the time, the company focused on service and maintenance, but over the years, it has expanded to include restoring and rebuilding existing organs and even constructing new instruments.

John and his brother Mark Muller now head the company, opening the Croton location in 1996 after John moved to the Columbus area. The Croton office now serves as the company’s main headquarters.

“I actually have a degree in music, specifically the trumpet, and I wanted to go and play for an orchestra somewhere. But a lack of jobs and a lack of exceptional talent led me here,” he said. “It was always my fallback, but I love the work.”

There is a lot that goes into building new pipe organs. Before work begins, the staff review the church or room the organ will be played in to examine its acoustical properties. Then the three organists on staff work with the builders to ensure the sound is what it should be.

A designer then comes up with a design concept. Once approved, the building begins. The consoles are all built from scratch in the warehouse, and the pipes arrive for the staff to make the incisions needed to produce a particular sound. Pastor Scott Hayes, of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, serves as the company’s tonal director.

It’s hard work and takes many hours of craftsmanship to complete, but the results are always rewarding, John Muller said.

“I like that we build these musical instruments from scratch and watching it evolve over the process. And when you get to sit down and listen to the sound playing from it, that to me is just incredible,” he said.

Although it might seem like a limited field, the Muller Pipe Organ Co. stays fairly busy. If someone drove four hours in any direction from its office, he or she likely would come across an organ that was restored or built by the company, John said.

There are new churches being built to this day that need pipe organs, and Muller is there to make it happen for them. And it’s not just churches who need organs, many universities, museums and music halls oftentimes have pipe organs that need to be serviced or restored.

Staying busy is one thing, but the business also relies on finding young people who are interested in learning the craft. Luckily for John, his son Jack caught the pipe organ bug. Jack works as a mechanical designer for the company and John is grooming him to take over when he retires.

“Surprisingly, there are a lot of young people out there who are studying the organ and there is some exceptional talent,” John said. “I think the future looks good for us.”

emaddern@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @emmaddern

About This Series

“Aces of Trades” is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs — whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at advocate@newarkadvocate.com.

Muller Pipe Organ Company

The Muller Pipe Organ Co. is located at 122 N. High St. in Hartford. The business provides restoration services for organs in need of repair or can build a new instrument from scratch. For more information, call 740-893-1700 or visit www.mullerpipeorgan.com.