The people at Schantz Organ Co. in Orrville are involved in making things, in particular the large church pipe organs that they specialize in rebuilding, repairing and servicing.
The family-owned business, founded in 1873, has survived more than 140 years, in part by adopting and applying new technologies to its old-world craft.
And it is now making time for Wayne County makers — people who want to learn new technologies such as 3-D printing, laser cutting and more as part of what is called the maker movement, which has been growing in popularity since at least the mid-2000s.
Victor Schantz, president of Schantz Organ and great-grandson of company founder Abraham Schantz, became enamored of the maker movement and since early 2016 has hosted monthly gatherings in the business at what is called Schantz MakerSpace, a name adopted from the terminology used in the maker movement.
“It’s…
