2005-06-16 - Identified through information in <i>Descriptive Catalogue of Superior Church Organs Manufactured by Geo. H. Ryder & Co.</i>, published in Boston, January, 1896. Dates are not included in the publication; the one given here is conjectural. -Database Manager
2017-11-28 - "This unusually fine organ stands in a remarkable frame building with a mansard roof. The instrument is chambered at the right of the pulpit platform and has an oak case front supporting five groups of multi-colored display pipes with oak posts between the flats. The organ may have been in the building originally or moved in by Ryder following the rebuilding. The action, case, and some of the pipes are by Ryder, but the manual chests and pipework are old and of very good quality. Many of the pipes are marked "Reading," which could mean that the organ was built for a Reading church, or the pipes came from Pierce of Reading, or the marks were made in 1891 while Ryder's shop was in Reading. The attached console is typical of Ryder and has beautifully engraved oblique stop knobs. The Swell is behind the Great, and the pre-1891 swell box has vertical shades. The Pedal pipes are at the rear; the Great has two horizontal rollerboards. The Gamba is a Keraulophon, and the Dulciana shares the bass octave; the open wood Hohl Flute has a stopped bass; the metal Rohr Flute has 21 open metal trebles; the Trumpet has 7 flue trebles. The Swell Open Diapason utilizes the Std. Diapason Bass when the O.D. is drawn; the Std. Diapason is all of stopped wood; the Viola is a bell gamba except for the top octave; the Flute Harmonique is of metal and wide-scaled -- the lowest 15 are not harmonic; the Vox Humana is a Ryder stop high in tin content, and replaced a reed or a mixture. The organ is tonally quite pleasing, but not in good condition." (Boston Organ Club Newsletter, July 1966) -Database Manager
Typed specification Source: from Boston Organ Club Newsletter (July 1966) July 1966
Hudson, Massachusetts
First Unitarian Society
Geo. H. Ryder Opus 161 1891
Originally built by Simmons & Willcox, ca. 1868
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GREAT COUPLERS (Drawknob)
16' Bourdon 56 Swell to Pedale
8' Open Diapason 56 Great to Pedale
8' Gamba 56
8' Dulciana (com. bass) 44 Swell to Great
8' Hohl Flute 56
4' Octave 56
4' Rohr Flute 56 FOOT TRUNDLES
2 2/3' Twelfth 56 Great Piano -
2' Fifteenth 56
III Mixture III 168 Great Forte -
8' Trumpet 56
Gr. to Ped. (rev)
SWELL (Expressive)
8' Open Diapason (com. bass) 44
8' Std. Diapason Treble (TC) 44 PEDAL MOVEMENTS
8' Std. Diapason Bass 12 Swell Expression (bal.)
8' Keraulophon 56
4' Viola 56
4' Flute Harmonique 56 ACCESSORIES / MECHANICALS
2' Flutina [sic] 56 Blowers Signal
8' Oboe (TC) 44 Ross Water Engine handle
8' Bassoon 12
8' Vox Humana (TC) 44 ACTION: Mech. Key & Stops
PEDALE VOICES: 21 STOPS: 23
16' Open Diapason 27
16' Bourdon 27 RANKS: 23 PIPES: 1,194
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2017-11-28]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.