ABOUT OUR FIRM

  We were organized in 1962 but were doing business prior to that and remain a small "mom and pop" company with a staff never exceeding five located in El Dorado, Arkansas.

  Prior to 1960 Louis Rabalais was apprenticed to the Gibson Company and subsequently worked with others including Casavant Freres who we represented for a number of years. In the 1980's and '90's we also operated El Dorado Pipe Organ Supply Co. We specialize in smaller instruments but have built built larger ones.

PHILOSOPHY

  Firmly intrenched in the Orgelwebung we interpet it within subsequent literature and varing liturigal traditions. We make both electric and mechanical actions. Manual divisions are not unified, pipes are seldom nicked and we prefer lower windpressures, lots of tin and other hallmarks of the Orgelwebung tradition. Our firm is responsible for many resturations of the oldest area instruments and we have an love and appreciation for older organs.

  As much as possible of our organs is manufactured in our shops. Consoles including  keyboards and indidually turned drawknobs are produced in house as  well as windchests, wooden stops and other details. We have some capacity for metal pipe making. Except for blowers almost everything used in organs has been made in our shops.

REBUILDING

  The bulk of our work has been in rebuilding, restoration and repair because most regional congregations are small and can ill-afford new organs. Rebuilding is not always the most cost effective, easiest or quickest solution to a malfunctioning organ but it is appropriate for historic and prized ones. We will  inform you if in our opinion a rebuild will not solve your problem.

  We also make additions, changes including revoicing, cases or whatever a sitution may require

MAINTENANCE AND TUNING

  This has been a sizable part of our interprize for fifty years in seven states accomodating historical as well as normal tuning. We also make inspections and consultations charging as little as possible for this. Often we are asked to give an opinion for insurance purposes of the value of an instrument which we do for our clients without charge.

PIANOS

  Organbuilders rarely maintain pianos but we do because so many of our customers are in rural areas where tuners are not available. For many years our shops were adjacent to southwestern Piano Company with whom we shared some facilities, tools and personnel including a secretrary. They delivered our organs in their vans and helped us get them set up and we strung, regulated or finished their pianos and did tuning  when necessary.

 AUDIO SAMPLES

    We utililize audio recordings as an aid in tonal finishing. These are made on available equipment which may leave something to be desired in quality. Some may have been made during church services under less than ideal conditions. To hear some of these click the link and follow instructions: http://www.box.net/shared/t75vg67ndy

AROUND THE SHOP

What is it?

                                                           A precision marker for pipe patterns and scale sticks based on the precision of an all-thread rod.    

                                                                       One of three rough keyboard assembly jigs. There must be a  very slight amount of pressure

Kathleen delivers pitman chests dissasembled and reassembles them on the job for safety and ease in moving

Some Informal Thoughts:           http://www.box.com/shared/ouvmuq8oz6               

    PERSONNEL

                Louis Rabalais was apprenticed for five years to the B.L. Gibson Co. Subsequently he worked with John T. Widner, John T. Fort, Phares Steiner and  Casavant Freres whom Rabalais represented for five or six years. One new organ was built with William Risinger. Louis was an organ performance major at Louisiana college and Southern Arkansas University and has taught at SouthArk Community College.  

             Kathleen Rabalais began working with Louis in 1960 when she was an organ peformance major at Southern Arkansas University. During that year she won first place in a regional competition. She holds a B.S. degree and a M.S.W.  from the University of Arkansas. Besides general organ building Kathleen wires all of our organs.    

           Andrea Petrosh has been around organ building her entire life and handles our affairs in Louisiana. She comes with an eclectic musical background and was involved resurectrion of a Katrina-damaged organ in New Orleans. Recently she and her son Michael assisted a builder with an installation. Andrea holds a B.A. from The University of the South. 

     Louis III has worked with us from an early age proving to be a good tuner from the age of ten or eleven. Although not active with us presently he can be available in an emergency as part of a family business. Presently he is finishing up a degree for another profession. Louis also has an eclectic musical background.

     Former employees some  who were with us a number of years include Dr. Donald Hogg, Richard Milner and Dennis Dumas, and Robert M. Turner who are all persuing other careers.

        THANK YOU FOR VISITING