Samuel Renn

Samuel Renn (10 June 1786 – 11 January 1845) was an English organ builder who ran a business in Stockport, and later he traded in Manchester. The surviving instruments are mainly in churches, although a house organ is also known.[1][2]

Renn was born in Kedleston, Derbyshire, where his father was employed at Kedleston Hall. In 1799 he was apprenticed to his uncle, James Davis, an organ builder in London. Renn became his foreman and supervised organ installations and maintenance in London and in Lancashire. When Davis retired Renn went into partnership with John Boston and traded as Renn & Boston in Stockport from 1822 to 1825 and then in Manchester. He died in Manchester in 1845.[3]

Renn developed a factory system for building organs, using standardised dimensions, thereby reducing the costs, while continuing to produce artistic designs. Between 1822 and 1845 over 100 organs were produced by Renn.

The business continued under other names and became Jardine and Co.

  1. ^ "Make Christmas last forever". December 2016.
  2. ^ "A Samuel Renn House-Organ from 1823-24". The Organ. Number 384. May–July 2018. {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ Sayer, Michael (2001). "Renn, Samuel". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5.‎