piston

1a. Pipe rank found in the melody division of many Mortier and Decap dance organs, with tapered wooden resonators and beating reeds. Some examples have an opening in the front and a wooden cap over the top. The term is an abbreviation of “Cornet à piston,” another name for the cornet used in modern bands. The piston rank has a less brilliant tone than that of the curved brass trumpet rank found in many Wurlitzer band organs, just as the hand-played cornet is mellower than the trumpet used in bands and orchestras. 1b. Large reed pipes with brass resonators found in the countermelody division of 98-key Gavioli organs. 2. One of several buttons in rows between the manuals of a pipe organ console, or toe studs near the pedals, which actuate combinations of ranks that may be preset by the organist. These facilitate rapid changing of several or many stops at once, saving the organist from flipping numerous stop tabs when a change of registration is desired.