From the OHS PC Database, derived from A Guide to North American Organbuilders, by David H. Fox (Richmond, Va.: Organ Historical Society, 1991; rev. ed., 1997, with updated information). —

With Aeolian-Skinner of Boston in 1960's. Operated his own firm in Lake Ridge, Virginia, 1972-1987; With M. P. Möller firm of Hagerstown, Maryland, 1987, assistant to president; active in 1990; with Lawless-Johnson Organ Co. by 1996.

Sources:

• The American Institute of Organbuilders (AIO): 1996 membership directory.
• Music July 1972, 7. [name changed to The American Organist in January 1979]
• Elizabeth Towne Schmitt.
• The American Organist October 1987, 56.
• The American Organist March 1990, 58.

From Organ Database Builders editor Stephen Hall, September 13, 2015. —

Irving Lawless had his first training in organ craft with Lewis & Hitchcock, under Mr. Ted Lewis and William Hitchcock. Later he worked with the AEolian-Skinner Organ Company doing installations and tonal finishing. This included the 4/104 at the National Presbyterian Church and the Kennedy Center Concert Hall both in Washington DC. When AEolian-Skinner closed in 1972 he started his own firm in the Washington DC area where they had jobs from Interlochen, Michigan to Bermuda. In 1987. Lawless accepted a position with M.P. Möller Company in Hagerstown MD, eventually becoming Tonal Manager and Assistant Vice President. At the close of Möller in 1992, the current company, Lawless & Associates, was formed; starting with the completion of contracts defaulted on by Möller.

Lawless & Associates is a service firm but with expanded capabilities beyond tuning, maintenance, and upgrades. The firm also performs restorations of old instruments, and design of new instruments.

Staff: Irving Lawless - President and Tonal Director; Cynthia (Cindy) L. Bachtell - Office Manager; Trevor R. Timmons - Shop Foreman

Source:

• Lawless & Associates website, accessed September 13, 2015, http://www.lawlessorgan.com.