Innovation in America - Schantz Organ Company - Music for the Ages!

Welcome to Mighty Line Minute, the podcast where we cover manufacturing and entrepreneurship at its finest! 

I’m your host, Dave Tabar, and today we’re headed to the small but mighty town of Orrville, Ohio - a place where music, heritage, and engineering converge in the resonant tones of pipe organs. This is the story of the historic Schantz Organ Company. 

 In an era dominated by automation and mass production, some corners of America continue to value artistry, measured not only in precision, but in sound. We’re here today to talk about vibrations that stir emotion and fill sacred spaces. The Schantz Organ Company is one such place. 

Schantz Organ Company was founded in 1873 by Abraham J. Schantz, born of Swiss immigrants, where he hand-made furniture in Kidron, Ohio. After taking apart and repairing a small reed organ for a local church, he began building small organs. 

What you're seeing here with AJ's experience growing up on the family farm as a tinkerer, someone who liked to create. At the time - how you entertained folks - wasn't the radio or the television. You gathered around a little reed organ in the parlor and you sang hymns. Well, someone in town came to AJ and said, this is broken. Can you fix it? Well, sure. And, sure enough he did. And it grew an interest in AJ to the point where he started building his own instruments. He called them Ohio Beauty, as you can see there. And we actually found this instrument, unfortunately, on the side of the road. So, what you're looking at is an actual instrument from 1876 that has been restored to the point where you can play it (wow)! 

A.J. Schantz had an ear for music and an eye for design. Word quickly spread throughout Wayne County, and soon, churches across the Midwest were commissioning his work. What began as a rural one-man shop soon grew into an Ohio-based company known worldwide for its meticulous handcrafting of mechanical and electro-pneumatic pipe organs. As the company entered the 20th century, leadership passed to A.J.’s sons, who began to formalize and expand the business. They moved into a larger facility in Orrville, Ohio and embraced technological innovation while preserving the tonal richness and craftsmanship their father championed.

Over the decades, Schantz Organ Company adapted to the changing needs of churches, concert halls, and universities. One of the company’s core values has always been balance - maintaining the art of traditional organ building while embracing advancements in materials and design. This has made Schantz a favorite not only of clergy and musicians, but of acousticians and architects who understand the complexities of integrating a pipe organ into a space.

But what really sets the Schantz Organ Company apart is their commitment to custom work. Every organ they build, or re-build is a one-of-a-kind instrument, tailored to the acoustics of its intended space. This level of bespoke craftsmanship is virtually unheard of in the modern world.

Some of the most prestigious commissions in American organ history bear the Schantz name. Notably, Schantz Organ Company was chosen to restore the iconic organ in the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City - a project that required both technical expertise and historical sensitivity. The restoration preserved the tonal character that made the organ world-famous, while upgrading its reliability for modern use. 

Other projects include a new instrument at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. Schantz has also built or restored organs in locations such as the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, St. Mark the Evangelist in Norman, Oklahoma, and Severance Music Center in Cleveland - home of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Most recently, they completed a full rebuild and modernization of a historic Holtkamp organ for the Parish of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located in Lakewood, Ohio.

Despite its global reputation, the company still operates out of its historic facility, staffed by a team of dedicated craftsmen - woodworkers, pipe makers, voicers, and tuners - many of whom have spent decades learning their craft. The company is currently led by Victor B. Schantz, who continues the legacy with the same pride and dedication as his great-grandfather. Fifth generation family member John P. Schantz serves as the company’s Vice-President and CFO.

The work done at Schantz is more than mechanical. It’s spiritual, artistic, and cultural. Pipe organs are not just instruments that represent entire orchestras - they are also an architectural statement, a sonic monument, and most often - a centerpiece of worship and community life. And for over one-hundred and fifty years, the Schantz Organ Company has treated every project with reverence, individuality and enthusiasm.

In a time when fleeting trends dominate our cultural landscape, Schantz reminds us of what endures: great craftsmanship - combined with purpose and passion - that creates brilliant music from an instrument capable of moving our souls and inspiring our minds.

Thank you for joining us on this special episode of Mighty Line Minute! If you enjoyed today’s journey into the history of the Schantz Organ Company, be sure to subscribe. And if you ever find yourself in Orrville, Ohio, listen carefully - you might just hear five generations of craftsmanship echoing through the pipes within their factory!

Until next time, I’m Dave, and this has been Mighty Line Minute, home of “the world’s most durable stripe.” Be sure to visit us at MightyLineTape.com, where you can learn more about improving safety and organization at your warehouse or manufacturing operation. And be sure to check out our very latest Mighty Line ISO Safety Symbols and Floor Signs Guide so that you can update your facility to current, national and international standards.

Have a safe day!