A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Flight, Benjamin

by William H. Husk

FLIGHT, Benjamin, an eminent organ builder, born about 1767, was the son of Benjamin Flight, who, in the latter part of the last century, carried on, in partnership with John Kelly, under the style of 'Flight and Kelly,' the business of organ building at Exeter Change. Young Flight learned the art of constructing organs from his father. About the year 1800 he commenced business, in partnership with Joseph Robson, in Lisle Street, Leicester Square, under the style of 'Flight and Robson.' They afterwards removed to St. Martin's Lane, where they constructed and for many years publicly exhibited the Apollonicon. [See Apollonicon.] The partnership was dissolved in 1832, after which Flight, in conjunction with his son, J. Flight, who had long actively assisted him, carried on business in St. Martin's Lane, as 'Flight and Son.' [App. p.636 "Messrs. Gray & Davison bought Robson's share of the business after the dissolution of the partnership."] Flight invented many improvements in organ building which prepared the way for still superior mechanism. Amongst them was an apparatus for steadying the wind, added to the bellows during a reparation of Father Schmidt's organ at Trinity College, Cambridge, which preceded, and possibly suggested, the concussion bellows. B. Flight died in 1847 aged 80, and Robson in 1876. Flight's son continues the business in St. Martin's Lane under the name of 'Flight and Son.'

[ W. H. H. ]