About Us
Founded in 1978, our company has grown to service the Northwest PA, Western NY and Northeast Ohio areas with a staff that has over 100 years combined experience working with pipe organs.
Second-generation organ builder and company owner Mark Fischer takes a perfectionist's approach to every task Fischer Pipe Organs, Inc. takes on-from routine maintenance and tuning to complete historic restorations. Mr. Fischer has been exposed to and part of the pipe organ all of his life.
At the age of 4, Mr. Fischer began piano lessons. At 11 he began organ lessons. This training lasted until age 16 when he pursued different interests such as woodworking, electrical engineering and cooking! All through high school and college, Mark would assist his father, Paul on seasonal service calls on pipe organs.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Restaurant Management, Mr. Fischer worked in the food service industry for one year.
In 1986, Mark joined his father full-time rebuilding, servicing and tuning pipe organs.
Paul Fischer is the company's founder. His organ building
experience began at the age of 18 in 1953 under the employ of his
uncle, Herman Tellers, president of Tellers Organ Company in Erie. By
1972, Mr. Fischer had worked in every department of the factory and had
become the plant's superintendent, overseeing every aspect of design
and construction of Tellers' organs. 
In 1973, Lawrence Phelps purchased the Tellers factory and changed the name to Phelps and Associates. Paul remained as plant superintendent under the direction of Phelps until the demise of the company in 1978. It was then that Paul started "Paul E. Fischer Pipe Organ Sales and Service, Inc.", a pipe organ service business based out of his Millcreek home.
Although essentially retired, Mr. Fischer continues to give guidance and support on a regular basis. He has learned how to operate the company's laser engraver and does much of our engraving work. Paul is now enjoying his retirement traveling quite frequently to Europe.
Our Head Technician, Craig Oldakowski, has been with Fischer Organ Co. for 12 years and oversees console system and organ chamber wiring, wood shop production and general shop operations. Craig brings expert knowledge of woodworking as well as pipe organ system installations. Prior to his employment here, Mr. Oldakowski oversaw the production of several electronic components at Sony Corporation.
Daniel Walker is just entering his third year as an apprentice in the company. Mr. Walker has mastered such skills as windchest wiring, pneumatic releathering, reservoir releathering and is currently studying to be a full-service technician, including tuning. Dan brings a musical background, having played the trumpet.
Wendy Zimmer is Fischer Organ's office manager. Wendy is responsible for customer communications, scheduling and bookkeeping. She is the voice behind the phone most of the time.
Dale Zimmerly began his pipe organ experience just out of high school in 1957. Mr. Zimmerly was also employed by both the Tellers and Phelps companies. In 1991 Dale returned to pipe organ building as an employee of Fischer Organs. He remains as a part-time assistant, contributing over 30 years experience to the company.
We also employ additional helpers on an as-needed basis. It's always nice to have extra hands when hoisting windchests or consoles over balcony railings or blowers into the depths of church basements!
