2005-07-18 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The original basis for this organ is a 1921 "Style B" Wurlitzer built for the Union Theatre in Bremerton. It had 4 ranks: Flute, Salicional, Vox Humana, and Trumpet. In 1933, it was moved to Hope Lutheran in W. Seattle by Balcom and Vaughan. It was enlarged by two ranks, but otherwise installed with all original equipment. It served until 1971 when it was replaced by a new Balcom & Vaughan Pipe Organs, Inc. instrument. -Database Manager
Stoplist copied from the console April, 1992 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
WURLITZER, Opus 390, 1921
Balcom and Vaughan, 1933 - Moving and Additions
Balcom and Vaughan Pipe Organs, Inc., Opus 802 RB, 1973
GREAT (Expressive) COUPLERS
8' Open Diapason 61 Swell to Pedal 8
8' Flute 61 Great to Pedal 8
8' Salicional (Sw) --
8' Dulciana (tc) 49 Swell to Great 16,8,4
4' Octave 12
4' Flute 12
2' Super Octave 12 FINGER PISTONS
8' Hautbois (Sw) -- General 1 - 4
Chimes (M-R; tf-f2) (25) Swell 1 - 4
Sw. to Ped. (rev)
Great to Great 16' Great 1 - 4
Great Unison Off Gt. to Ped. (rev)
Great to Great 4' Pedal 1 - 4
Cancel
SWELL (Expressive)
16' Bourdon 12 TOE STUDS
8' Gedeckt 61 General 1 - 4
8' Salicional 61 Pedal 1 - 4
8' Voix Celeste (tc) 49 Gt. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
4' Octave (Gt) -- Sw. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
4' Gedeckt 12
4' Salicet 12
2-2/3' Nasat 7
2' Flautina 5 PEDAL MOVEMENTS
1-1/3' Larigot -- Swell Expression (bal.)
8' Hautbois 61 Great Expression (bal.)
Tremulant Crescendo (bal.)
Swell to Swell 16'
Swell Unison Off
Swell to Swell 4'
PEDAL (Expressive) ACTION: E-P unit
16' Bourdon (Sw) --
16' Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw) -- VOICES: 7
8' Open Diapason (Gt) --
8' Flute (Sw) -- STOPS: 28; inc. chimes
8' Cello (Sw) --
4' Octave (Gt) -- RANKS: 7
8' Hautbois (Sw) --
4' Hautbois (Sw) -- PIPES: 487
1 blank, black stop tablet
NOTES
Our Savior Lutheran Church was formed from the merger of two churches: House of
Prayer Lutheran Church (LCA) and Bethel Lutheran Church (Lutheran Free). The
merger took place in 1970. Rev. Rudolf Seastrand of House of Prayer Lutheran and
Rev. Theol Heiland of Bethel Lutheran co-pastored the "new church" for one year.
It is not know if Bethel Lutheran ever had a pipe organ, but House of Prayer had
acquired a used tracker-action organ sometime during the pastorate of Rev. Leslie
Larson between 1961 and 1967. The organ was a II-manual, 12-rank instrument built
by Geo. Kilgen & Son in 1890 for First Presbyterian Church in Seattle. It was moved
sometime after 1907 to Hillcrest Presbyterian in West Seattle, and to House of
Prayer Lutheran in 19__. After the merger between House of Prayer Lutheran and
Bethel Lutheran, the organ was moved to the basement of the Student Center of
Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, WA. It has since been refurbished by
students at P.L.U., and has been placed in the chapel of Trinity Lutheran Church
adjacent to the campus.
The organ at Our Savior Lutheran has a long history, and is a compilation of parts
from several sources. Its origins go back to 1921 when Wurlitzer installed a model
135 B organ in the Union Theatre in Bremerton, WA. This original organ had 4 ranks:
Flute, Salicional, Trumpet, and Vox Humana. In 1933, the organ was moved to Hope
Lutheran Church in West Seattle by Balcom and Vaughan. It was enlarged by two ranks.
The organ with its original console, chest, some pipes, and the additions served
Hope Lutheran until 1971 when a new, II-manual, 18-rank instrument was built and
installed for them by Balcom and Vaughan Pipe Organs, Inc. The organ was placed in
storage until a new home could be found for it.
The organ was installed in Our Savior Lutheran Church in Burien in 1973. The original
console was replaced by a refurbished, used console from Trinity Lutheran Church in
Longview, WA. The console had originally been an Everett "Orgatron" console which had
been refurbished and equipped as a pipe organ console for the Longview, WA. church.
The disposition of the original Wurlitzer console is unknown.
In 19__, Balcom and Vaughan Pipe Organs, Inc. added a new Hautbois rank to the organ
as their job number SC 660. The chimes were added in 19__ as SC 663. A new relay was
also added sometime after the initial 1973 installation. The original 4-rank Wurlitzer
chest is still present in the organ. It holds the Great 8'/4'/2' Open Diapason unit
which occupies the original Trumpet toeboard; The Great 4'/2' Flute which is original
Wurlitzer; the 8'/4' Salicional which is original Wurlitzer, and the added 8' Hautbois
on the original 8' Vox Humana toeboard. The Swell 16'/8'/4'/2-2/3'/2' flute unit plays
from a used Robert Morton chest of unknown origin, and the Great 8' Dulciana and Swell
8' Voix Celeste play from the 2-rank Balcom and Vaughan chest originally built for the
1933 Hope Lutheran installation.
Sources: Balcom and Vaughan opus list & files; JRS; extant organ.
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