Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2006-12-04 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- Originally a theatre organ built by Smith-Geneva for the Renton Hall Theatre in Renton, Washington. Ca. 1951, moved to First Presbyterian in Renton. 1960, moved to their new edifice with 2 ranks added. Then, here. -Database Manager
2012-12-31 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The congregation merged with Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Seattle and placed the building for sale. A developer has purchased the property and the church will be torn-down and new homes built. The organ was removed by Puget Sound Pipe Organs of Seattle on Sunday, December 30 and Monday, December 31, 2012. -Database Manager
2014-11-20 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The Trumpet rank from this organ has been installed in the Hauptwerk division of the Silbermann-inspired gallery organ at Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Townsend, Washington. The 1960 Balcom and Vaughan console from this organ has been attached to the 1951 Moller (Op. 8267) installed at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Marysville, Washington by Puget Sound Pipe Organs in October, 2014. -Database Manager
Original document from James R. Stettner. Source: Stoplist copied from the console December 30, 2012 2019-01-30
Seattle, Washington
Calvary Lutheran Church
SMITH-GENEVA, 1925
Balcom and Vaughan, Opus 679, 1960 - Moving & Enlargement
Richard Warburton, 1971 - Moving & Reinstallation
GREAT (Expressive) SWELL (Expressive) PEDAL (Expressive)
16 Open Diapason 16 Bourdon 16 Bourdon
8 Open Diapason 8 Open Diapason 16 Gedeckt
8 Gedeckt 8 Gedeckt 8 Open Diapason
8 Salicional 8 Salicional 8 Flute
8 Dulciana blank 8 Cello
4 Octave 8 Dulciana 5-1/3 Quint
4 Flute 4 Flute 4 Octave
4 Salicet 4 Salicet 2 Super Octave
4 Dulcet 2-2/3 Nazard 8 Trumpet
2-2/3 Twelfth 2 Piccolo
2 Fifteenth 8 Trumpet
8 Trumpet Tremolo
Chimes
STOP / RANK / PIPE ANALYSIS
16 Open Diapason (Gt) -- Tenor C. From the 8' Open Diapason.
16 Bourdon (Sw/Ped) 12 Extension of the 8' Gedeckt.
16 Gedeckt (Ped) -- Same as the 16' Bourdon. Notes 1-12 on
soft wind.
8 Open Diapason (Gt/Sw/Ped) 61
8 Gedeckt (Gt/Sw) 61
8 Flute (Ped) -- Same as the 8' Gedeckt.
8 Salicional (Gt/Sw) 61
8 Cello (Ped) -- Same as the 8' Salicional.
Blank Formerly controlled the 8' Voix Celeste.
8 Dulciana (Gt/Sw) -- Tenor C. From the 4' Dulcet.
5-1/3 Quint (Ped) -- From the Open Diapason unit.
4 Octave (Gt/Ped) 12 Extension of the 8' Open Diapason.
4 Flute (Gt/Sw) 12 Extension of the 8' Gedeckt.
4 Salicet (Gt/Sw) 12 Extension of the 8' Salicional.
4 Dulcet (Gt) 61
2-2/3 Twelfth (Gt) -- From the Open Diapason unit. Notes 55 -
61 from the 2-2/3' Nazard.
2-2/3 Nazard (Sw) 7 Extension of the 8' Gedeckt.
2 Fifteenth (Gt) -- From the Open Diapason unit. Notes 50 -
61 from the 2' Piccolo.
2 Super Octave (Ped) -- From the Open Diapason unit.
2 Piccolo (Sw) 5 Extension of the 8' Gedeckt.
8 Trumpet (Gt/Sw/Ped) 61 Harmonic.
Tremolo (Sw) Affects the entire instrument.
Chimes (Gt) (21) Maas. Compass: tenor a thru f 42.
PIPE SUMMARY
Open Diapason Gedeckt Salicional Dulcet Trumpet
73 pipes 97 pipes 73 pipes 61 pipes 61 pipes
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Expression (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.)
NOTES
This organ was created from a 1925 Smith-Geneva built for the Renton-Hall Theatre in
Renton, Washington. The original organ was 2-manuals and 4-ranks. The original four
ranks seem to have been: Open Diapason, Flute, “string” (marked “Vio”), and likely a
Vox Humana.
The organ was moved in 1951 to the First Presbyterian Church at 107 Main St. in Renton
by Arthur D. Longmore and Charles Allen. It was installed "as is" without tonal changes,
and with the original console. It was 2-manuals and 4-ranks with 27 speaking stops.
In 1960, Balcom and Vaughan moved the organ to the congregation's new building at 2640
Benson Rd. S. as their opus 679 with 2 ranks added – an 8' Voix Celeste and an 8'
Trumpet. They replaced the original console with a new B&V console. The disposition of
the original console is unknown.
In 1971, the organ was relocated to Calvary Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Ballard by Richard
Warburton - at which time he removed the added celeste rank, reducing the organ to 5
ranks. It existed at this location until December 31, 2012.
In 2008, the Calvary Lutheran congregation merged with Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in
North Ballard on 80th Street, and placed the Calvary building for sale. It wasn't
purchased until 2012, and the developer who bought the property intended to raze the
church and construct new homes in this residential neighborhood.
The organ was removed from the chamber on Sunday, December 30, 2012 by Michael Way and
Jim Stettner of Puget Sound Pipe Organs, assisted by parishioner Nelson Miller. The
organ was removed from the church to the PSPO shop on Camano Island the following day.
The windchests are almost entirely original to the Smith-Geneva except for a few 12-note
offset chests added by Balcom and Vaughan in 1960. The original Smith-Geneva regulator
was present but had been replaced by a new Organ Supply Industries regulator. The Open
Diapason may be original. Notes 1-24 of the 16' Bourdon are original Smith-Geneva, but
from 4' c and upward the pipes were new Organ Supply stopped wood pipes of a smaller
scale. The original Smith-Geneva pipes from 4' c and upward were likely an open wood
flute. The 8' Salicional is original and the pipes are stamped “Vio.” Pipes 1 – 5 are
actually canistered Quintadena pipes with box beards. The 8' Trumpet was new in 1960
and has 49 reeds and 12 open metal trebles. It is a harmonic Trumpet. The expression
louvers were used Wurlitzer and were not removed from the chamber. The blower was also
not salvaged.
Sources: Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. I by David L. Junchen;
Eugene M. Nye compilation; Balcom and Vaughan files; extant organ
Calvary Lutheran Church (ELCA)
7002 23rd Ave. NW
Seattle, WA. 98117
(206) 783-3930 Documented: December 30, 2012
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