The Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio is America's oldest continuously operating pipe organ workshop. The company was founded in 1855 by Gottlieb Votteler. The work produced by the shop has evolved over the years in terms of architectural style, sound, and mechanism. During this time, the company has had a number of names, including: The Votteler Organ Company, The Votteler-Hettche Organ Company, The Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling Organ Company, and finally in 1951, The Holtkamp Organ Company.
When Gottlieb Votteler opened his shop for building pipe organs in Cleveland in 1855, he built small instruments with mechanical key action and mechanical stop action. During the Votteler-Hettche years, robust mechanical actions were replaced with tubular–pneumatic actions, transitioning to electro-pneumatic actions in the Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling years, and Holtkamp Organ years. Currently the company builds electro-pneumatic, electric slider, and mechanical action organs.[1]