The world was full of budding keyboardists in the 1960's. However, that didn't mean homes were full of pianos. Pianos were big, heavy, and expensive. Having one in your home meant that you were committed to playing it, otherwise it just took up space.
The same wasn't true for a musical instrument that was inexpensive, lightweight, and small enough to tuck away into a closet when not in use.
Chord organs were found in lots of homes during this time. The most common brand was Magnus. Magnus chord organs were made of various shades of plastic. They were made to sit on a tabletop, or there were also models that came on legs. They would necessitate benches with built-in compartments for the sheet music that was also a familiar sight.
We never had a chord organ in our home. I guess that's a comment on the Enderlands' musical talent. But lots of my friends had them.
The Magnus chord organ had a fan, which you could hear spin up when you switched it on. When you pressed the keys, you allowed air to blow over certain reeds. The resultant sound was similar to that of a harmonica, which works the same way.
There were also chord buttons on the left side, which could be used to provide nice background sound to your expertly played keys.
Of course, expertly played keys did not necessarily accompany the organs. The sheet music showed you how to play the right notes, but the music actually required talent to be done well, something which I, and many of my friends, sadly lacked.
However, many successful musicians did start out with a humble Magnus chord organ, and used it to propel them on to bigger and better things. A likely upgrade for such a prodigy might be a Hammond organ, capable of all sorts of cool stuff. Its electronically-produced sound made for imitation of different instruments like the trumpet, the clarinet, or the piano.
Most of the time, when I write about old toys and gadgets, I can find a good deal of information on the subjects. That's not the case with the Magnus organs. Lots of folks remember having them, but nobody seems to know the origin of the toy/musical instrument itself.
I did find one website that stated that Magnus organs originated during the Industrial Revolution. Perhaps they did, but the plastic/electric models we had in our homes more likely arose sometime in the 50's. 
Some households proudly owned nicer wooden Magnuses. They coughed up three-figure prices for the organs, which would then be considered considered real furniture, not to be placed in the closet when not being played..
Nowadays, you can buy nice Casio keyboards capable of some amazing electronic sounds for around a hundred bucks (considerably cheaper than the Hammonds that cost over a hundred 1966 bucks). They will pipe music into your computer, where you can save it as a midi file. While not nearly as commonplace as the Magnuses of the 60's, many aspiring musicians are discovering their talent by playing with them at a young age, much as we did with our plastic, air-driven chord organs.
Comments (26)
I am only 17, so I don't remember the good old days when these were in every home; however, i did pick up one of the wooden, nicer organs for 75 bucks at a thrift store in New Hampshire. It has 16 chord buttons (8 major and 8 Minor, white and black, respectively). It has 3 octaves, and that distinctive sound. Can anybody email me information about this?
Posted by Daniel Mullen | August 6, 2007 8:59 PM
Posted on August 6, 2007 20:59
I bought a wooden magnus for $14.85 at an antique store in OKC. It's missing a key, but still a great find.
Posted by Ryan | May 25, 2008 3:29 PM
Posted on May 25, 2008 15:29
I HAVE A MAGNUS CHORD ORGAN IN MY BASEMENT. I BELIEVE IT IS MODEL 890. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF IT HAS ANY VALUE? I MIGHT WANT TO SELL IT.
Posted by ANGELO GRILLO | September 25, 2008 3:48 PM
Posted on September 25, 2008 15:48
I just picked up a Magnus 12 chord button organ. It plays too loud. The volumn valve button under the keyboard moves around and does not lower the sound. Is there some way I can make it play softer? I like to play late at night and it needs to be low soft music.
Thanks,
Valane
Posted by Valane | October 17, 2008 10:17 PM
Posted on October 17, 2008 22:17
My mom had one when she was a kid and we still have it it's great. to muffle the sound we just put a folded towel underneath it because i liked to play it alot growing up
Posted by Stephanie | November 13, 2008 7:14 PM
Posted on November 13, 2008 19:14
My mom had one when she was a kid and we still have it it's great. to muffle the sound we just put a folded towel underneath it because i liked to play it alot growing up
Posted by Stephanie | November 13, 2008 7:15 PM
Posted on November 13, 2008 19:15
My family had a magnus chord organ while we were growing up.We all loved it so much. I have inhereted it and would like for my children to have the "memories" as well. I need to know where to find the "play" books. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by nina | December 11, 2008 10:55 PM
Posted on December 11, 2008 22:55
I have a magnus organ Corp. chord organ Model 821 P. It has legs. Can anyone please tell me is this of any value. I got it in approximately 1976. Thank you.
Posted by jane | January 1, 2009 2:24 PM
Posted on January 1, 2009 14:24
Music books for the Magnus Organs can be found on eBay.
Posted by Ann | April 25, 2009 3:14 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 15:14
I had one as a child growing up.Love to play it.I still have one now and play it often, found it in an auction.I am looking for more music bookd for it,if anyone knows where I can find some.I would also like to know the value of it now.Its a stands on the floor model has a foot pedal for loudness, actually looks like a organ.
Posted by Laura | May 3, 2009 8:55 AM
Posted on May 3, 2009 08:55
We had an organ that looks just like that first picture. Don't remember what the name was, but we had it. Don't think it got played much and don't know whatever happened to it?
Posted by Rivers End | June 14, 2009 11:40 PM
Posted on June 14, 2009 23:40
i have about 12 to 15 song books that go with my
magnus chord organ if any one like to buy one or all
of my song books you can
email me a
kid4265@yahoo.com
p.s. i got pictures of the
song books
Posted by robert | July 5, 2009 2:11 PM
Posted on July 5, 2009 14:11
I have a Magnus chord organ with wooden legs, book holder & book #1 that came with the organ. The copyright date in the book says 1958-'59. I bought this organ new in the early 1960's. I still have it & am now looking to sell it. It looks like the first photo on this sight. Two of the keys no longer make sound but otherwise is in pretty good condition. If anyone is interestd in buying, I would like to sell it as soon as possible. Thanks!!
Posted by Brenda | August 22, 2009 9:17 PM
Posted on August 22, 2009 21:17
I have a Magnus chord organ with wooden legs, book holder & book #1 that came with the organ. The copyright date in the book says 1958-'59. I bought this organ new in the early 1960's. I still have it & am now looking to sell it. It looks like the first photo on this sight. Two of the keys no longer make sound but otherwise is in pretty good condition. If anyone is interestd in buying, I would like to sell it as soon as possible. Thanks!!
Posted by Brenda | August 22, 2009 9:29 PM
Posted on August 22, 2009 21:29
I just sent the above information. If anyone is interested in purchasing this Magnus chord organ, model # 391, serial # 16446, please email me at bcalhoun73@yahoo.com
THANKS!!
Brenda
Posted by Brenda | August 22, 2009 9:39 PM
Posted on August 22, 2009 21:39
Do you have any of the music books that were published for these organs?
Posted by Linda | October 20, 2009 12:12 AM
Posted on October 20, 2009 00:12
Hello! Just found a MAGNUS electric chord organ model 411. It's made of plastic. The label says that the manufacturer is MAGNUS ORGANS DIVISION of OVERPELT-PLASCOBEL N.V. Belgium. Does anybody know anything about this instrument? What's the year? Everything works and sounds nice. Interesting machine :) Thx for help!
Posted by Marcin | December 12, 2009 8:27 AM
Posted on December 12, 2009 08:27
I have a magnus chord organ with removable wooden legs but have no music books. I could never play it well but would like 2 or 3 books to practice. Anyone wishing to sell some please contact me with price,
Posted by tom hunter | December 16, 2009 2:26 PM
Posted on December 16, 2009 14:26
I just found the one I had as a kid, it was in storage for some time. Still works! It's the one pictured first. FYI; checked ebay, these things aren't worth much.
Posted by Mark T | December 18, 2009 10:32 AM
Posted on December 18, 2009 10:32
i got an old magnus chord organ with 25 keys and 6 chords and it is an old walt disney one.(all red) if anybodey has info or can apraise it send me an email
Posted by shellie pullen | March 15, 2010 7:33 PM
Posted on March 15, 2010 19:33
My grandma used to play this magnus 6 chord desktop organ, like the 2nd picture but has a book holder. Anyhow she taught me to play as a child growing up and I used to love listening to her play. She passed away and I now have it, even though I have forgotton how to play it, i havent forgotton the memories of my grandmother playing it for me and listening to me play it to her. I have a couple books with sheet music from along time ago with a few songs I remember and love. Would like to know where to buy or download some new stuff so if anyone knows of any ideas feel free to email me or post it. Thanks and God Bless.
Posted by Christine | April 23, 2010 8:30 AM
Posted on April 23, 2010 08:30
Angel Grillo: If you really have an 890, or the similar (but particle board rather than wood) 549, those are nice and extremely unusual organs. You might be able to find a motivated buyer but I wouldn't count on it. If you got $100 you'd be lucky. Don't junk it! Contact me: NOSPAM_TheLarryBrown@gmail.com. The bass notes on those organs make them much more useful and almost no chord organs include those bass notes.
Valane: Your volume lever isn't working. Fix it and then you can lower the volume as desired. Otherwise just place a towel over the air vents where the sound comes out. Better to block the out vents...if you block the input vent as Stephanie suggested you might overheat the motor.
Nina: Chord organ music appears every single day on ebay.
Jane: I don't know the model 821. Give me a description of the chord panel. How many chord types (major, minor, 7th, etc), and how many chords (hopefully at least 6: C, G, D, A, E, B), and does it have bass keys?
Jane, Shellie, others: I'm sorry to tell you that any chord organ is only worth $20. They are just toys, most of them are cheap plastic, you can't really make music with them unless they have bass notes, there's millions of them floating around, and there is no one that wants them. Just list it on ebay where you are marketing to the entire country. If it has any value it will sell there.
Laura: Those spinet models like yours are nicer organs. Give me a description of the chord panel.
Posted by Larry Brown | August 18, 2010 11:51 PM
Posted on August 18, 2010 23:51
Answer the questions mang, how do you see it and play back in time with myself as a child with chord book and eggnog.
Posted by greg anderstein | February 15, 2011 8:05 PM
Posted on February 15, 2011 20:05
My sister was married in our home and I played the Bridal March on a portable organ. From the looks of these photos it was probably a Magnus. It had 12 chord buttons, wooden legs, probably three octaves, and the finish was kind of a light brown on a plastic/metallic cabinet. It came with a songbook and the only song I remember is "On Top of Old Smokey". It made a whirring sound when it started up, and the strangest thing about it was that underneath the cabinet there was a curved lever that fit into the curve of your leg and you pushed your leg against the lever to increase the volume.
Posted by dommie | March 9, 2011 1:51 PM
Posted on March 9, 2011 13:51
i just had a magnus overture given to me by a friends dad
i took it home and whiped the dust off of it as far as needing a good dusting it's in great working order i dont know a date on it but it is wooden or particleboard with thin vineer
it has 8 minor major and bass keys. it has leg holes but no legs or stool came with it
i have a freind with a studio, we are going to bring it to next time we go and record with it. im sure i can get
i can get some pretty eeire sounds out of that thing
i love it. if anyone could tell me a model number and maybe what its worth i might put it up for auction after i record with it
its so old i couldnt use it on stage and the road
im scared i would break it somehow
anyway nice reading your posts gave me more insight on what i had email me for more info
Posted by Max Hearn | April 15, 2011 9:40 AM
Posted on April 15, 2011 09:40
I just picked a Magnus 300 Model series up at a garage sale for $2...Here's how it sounded. Cheers. http://youtu.be/XC7aQ87WaDA
Posted by scott shay | November 17, 2011 10:53 AM
Posted on November 17, 2011 10:53