John J. Miller Mechanical Organ & Clock Works, LLC

03/24/2025

For 114 years, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ (the world’s largest fully-functional pipe organ with 28,750 pipes) has been played daily to the public. This all changed Saturday when Macy’s Center City (downtown Philadelphia) closed its doors for the last time. While the building and organ are on city historical registers and thus “protected,” it is unknown when the organ will again be heard by the public. (That being said, the new owners sound promising). An all-day concert was given as a farewell to the organ, which was live-streamed on YouTube. A link to the final portion of the concert can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/live/e5-QBEQbAbk?si=UOUgHSJUaJw_3DUk

I was able to see, hear, and climb around inside of the Wanamaker organ during the American Institute of Organbuilders’ national convention in 2022. The sound from this instrument is other-worldly. If you didn’t know better, you would be convinced a full symphony orchestra were performing someplace in the building. If you ever get a chance to hear this instrument in person, take the time to do so! Considering the circumstances, you might be experiencing history.

01/23/2024

Very sad to hear of the unexpected passing of our mechanical music friend, Bill Nunn. Bill was always happy to share his collection with anyone interested. One of my favorite memories is when he brought one of his fairground organs to German Fest in Milwaukee and played the 1812 Overature in time with the fireworks. He will be missed greatly in the mechanical music world, and of course by his family and close friends.

"So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps 90:12

Here's a recording of "Ninon" on Bill's 81 key Marenghi dance organ from one of my visits to his collection.

11/21/2023

If you know what you're looking for, you can see the workshop in the thumbnail of this promotional video of West Allis!

https://fb.watch/osFgqr8IBR/

09/30/2023

Come celebrate the dedication of the once-again-relocated Klaus Becker pipe organ tomorrow (Sunday, October 1st) at 3pm at Reformation Lutheran Church in Dousman, WI

S39W32887 Co Rd D
Dousman, WI 53118

This is the same pipe organ we relocated to Divine Peace Lutheran in Milwaukee in 2019. Divine Peace closed at the end of 2021 and the building was purchased by a sister congregation that had no use for the organ.

07/29/2023

Happy to have had a little feature by the farmers' market! Today is actually the 25th anniversary of the market and marks my 11th year of playing at the market.

07/28/2023

Normally we would be at German Fest Milwaukee this weekend, however, this year we won't be there due to family commitments. I thought I'd pass this along here since I know some of you go just to see our information booth there. See you next year at German Fest!

06/15/2023

Come hear Dave Wickerham on the 1929 IV/65 Welte-Tripp organ at Christ Community Church in Zion, IL tomorrow. I've been maintaining this organ since the early days of my business with many medium-sized restoration projects bringing it more and more to full functionality.

Yes, that's indirectly the same Welte name that you see on orchestrions! Their American division built church and theatre organs as well. This instrument has an incredibly powerful and unique sound. It's an absolute crayon box of colorful sounds.

Organist David Wickerham Concert June 16 at 7:00pm! General admission $10 / children under 12 are free. You can purchase tickets on Sunday in the Lobby and during the week in the Church Office and at the door on Friday. *Someone in our church has kindly offered to cover the $10 ticket cost for all students ages 12-18. We'd love for you to take advantage of this and enjoy a phenomenal and fun concert!

09/30/2022

Here's a wonderful little feature from a local news channel! Click on the link in the video description for the write-up.

A young Milwaukee man is tuning the notes of the past to keep them ringing for decades to come. “I like preserving things that are old. I like hearing thing...

07/10/2021

I'm back at the South Shore Farmer's Market for my 10th season! The market is every Saturday from 8am-noon through October. I will be here almost every Saturday playing the street organ.

It's great to be back, and I owe a lot to my many fans at the market! Thanks, all!

07/06/2021

We had fun this past weekend playing this c. 1890 Frati barrel organ in the West Allis 4th of July parade