R. Byard Fritts (1970)

Images

2002-09-15 - Sanctuary Interior, Chancel, and Pipe Displays (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Great Pipe Display and Chamber (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Positiv Pipe Display and Chamber (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Great Pipework (f-b): III Mixture, 4' Principal, 4' Harmonic Flute, 8' Principal (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Swell Pipework (l-r): 4' Hautbois, 8' Trompette, 8' Viola Pomposa, 8' Viola Celeste (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Swell Pipework (l-r): III Plein Jeu, 8-4-2 Hohl Flöte, 8' Quintadena; Ped. 2' Doppel Gedeckt (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Pedal Pipework (Möller Bourdon) (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Chimes (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Kohler-Lieblich Harp (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Close-up of Harp Action (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Modified Möller Console (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Piston Coupler Switches (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Crescendo Indicator (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Wind Indicator (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

2002-09-15 - Combination 'Set' Pistons (Photograph by James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Notes

2006-06-12 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- This is an essentially new organ retaining some of the previous Möller pipework, one or two Möller chests, and the original Moller console -- which was not fully restored and has partially failed. At present (6/2006) the organ is in desperate need of renovation and upgrade. A different congregation now calls this building home as Salem Lutheran moved to a new facility. -Database Manager

2015-03-01 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- Puget Sound Pipe Organs examined the organ today (2015-02-27) at the request of the pastor of the present congregation: Communion Church. There is in interest in resurrecting use of the organ, but much work needs to be done. We had wind but no electricity when we arrived. We got the current going and found most of the organ playable, but with lots of dead notes and/or many pipes pulled for ciphers. A staged approach to work is being developed at this time. Six ranks are retained from the original, transplanted Moller plus the original console. -Database Manager

Stoplist

Stoplist copied from the console March 29, 1993 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

Mount Vernon, Washington Salem Lutheran Church M.P. MÖLLER, Opus 3128, 1968 R. Byard Fritts, 1970 - Rebuild & Enlargement GREAT CHOIR-POSITIV (Expressive *) 8 Principal 61 8 Gedeckt Pommer (façade) 61 8 Rohr Flöte 61 8 Erzahler (*) 68 4 Octave 61 8 Erzahler Celeste (*) (tc) 56 4 Harmonic Flute 61 + 4 Gedeckt Flöte 12 2 Principal 12 2-2/3 Nazard (façade) 61 III Mixture [19-22-26] 183 2 Sifflöte 12 Chimes (Deagan; ta-e2) (20) 1-1/3 Larigot 12 8 Clarinet (*) 68 + Great to Great 4' Tremulant blank blank SWELL (Expressive) [8] Harp (K-L; mc - c 61) (37) 8 Hohl Flöte 61 + 8 Viola Pomposa 68 Choir to Choir 4' 8 Viola Celeste (tc) 56 8 Quintadena 68 + 4 Traverse Flöte 12 + PEDAL 2 Piccolo 12 16 Bourdon 24 + III Plein Jeu [19-22-26] 183 16 Quintaton (Ch) 12 8 Trompette 68 8 Principal (Gt) -- 4 Hautbois 68 8 Hohl Flöte (Sw) -- Tremulant 4 Choral Bass (Gt) -- 2 Doppel Gedeckt 32 + Swell to Swell 16' II Rausch Quint [15-19] -- Swell to Swell 4' COUPLERS FINGER PISTONS Swell to Pedal 8,4 General 1 – 3 Great to Pedal 8 Swell 1 – 6 Choir to Pedal 8 Great 1 – 6 Choir 1 – 6 Swell to Great 16,8,4 Full Organ [added] (rev) Choir to Great 16,8,4 To Set Combinations On/Off Swell to Choir 8,4 TOE STUDS Unknown [not working] (rev) FOOT LEVERS (Unlabeled) Unknown [not working] (rev) To Set Combinations (rev) PEDAL MOVEMENTS SWITCHES Swell Expression (bal.) Manual Pistons to Great On/Off Choir Expression (bal.) Pedal Pistons to Manual On/Off Crescendo (bal.) ACTION: E-M & E-P VOICES: 18 STOPS: 32; inc. RANKS: 22 PIPES: 1,404 chimes & harp NOTES The M.P. Möller was originally built for the Hill Street Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. The Möller opus list gives the size of the instrument as III-manuals and 54 registers. According to church records, it was purchased and installed at Salem Lutheran Church in 1931. In 1949, Balcom and Vaughan of Seattle, WA. added a 61-pipe, tenor C, 8' Dulciana to the organ. That firm's opus list records the organ as having III-manuals and 13-ranks including the added Dulciana. This was done as Balcom and Vaughan's opus 495. In 1970, Dr. R. Byard Fritts of Tacoma, WA. was contracted to rebuild and enlarge the organ. All new direct-electric chests were built, and much new pipework was added. Stops marked with a plus (+) in the specification indicate original ranks from the Möller. The Pedal 2' Doppel Gedeckt may be original. Two, 2-rank chests were cantilevered into the chancel. One holds the Great 8' Rohr Flöte and most of the 8' Principal, and the other holds the unenclosed "Positiv" portion of the Choir division. This is the unit metal Gedeckt and the unit Nazard. The Great chimes are actually located in the Swell chamber as is the Choir harp. The harp was manufactured by the Kohler-Lieblich Co. The Great division is located on the front, left side of the chancel over the sacristy. The Swell is located on the central axis of the building and high over the altar. The Choir-Positiv is located on the front, right side of the chancel opposite the Great. With the exception of the stoptablets - the console, keyboards, pedalboard, etc. appear to be entirely original. Interior functions are still operated by air. When Salem Lutheran decided to build a new church in the late 1990s, they sold the old church to a new congregation called The Gathering in 1998. The organ was left ccbehind. It was in playable but unusable condition. Sources: M.P. Möller opus list; church history; B&V opus list; JRS; extant organ. [Received from James R. Stettner February 27, 2015]

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