Organ pipe pieces

Five unfinished organ pipes, four of which are from Bath where William Herschel lived as a musician until 1781.

This piece is associated with the Herschel family since it features in the catalogue made of all the astronomical material extant at the Herschel house in Slough (Observatory House) in 1924. Although it has been assumed that these were organ pipes, presumably because William was an organist in Bath before he gave up music entirely for astronomy, there is no evidence to suggest he made his own musical instruments.

Object Details

ID: AST1025
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Musical instrument parts
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Unknown
People: Herschel, William
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Herschel Collection
Measurements: Overall: 85 mm x 360 mm x 90 mm