Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2007-07-26 - Identified through online information from Douglas W. Craw. -- The organ was designed by Joseph S. Whiteford and dedicated in a recital by Marcel Dupré. It is in 2 parts: The main organ (4 Divisions/49 Ranks) is installed in chambers above the stage. There is also a Portative Organ (3 Divisons/23 Ranks) that is movable. Ford Auditorium has been closed for many years (since the early 90s I believe) but as of a couple of years ago the building was still standing and the organ was still inside. -Database Manager
2007-12-10 - Updated through online information from Mark Funk. -- 2006--Sad situation. The auditorium was closed with the opening of the renovated Orchestra Hall. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra moved to the renovated Orchestra Hall. Former technician told me that if the organ were to be removed it changes the status of the building. Until then, the Detroit City Government can sit and do nothing with the building. Some officials won't even discuss the building (secondhand). The building was closed in 1998. The organ has not been played since then. This organ had been played by Virgil Fox. A true example of an organ being held hostage by politics. An underground newspaper stated about a year ago that the Detroit Theater Organ Society was debating removing the former Fisher Theater organ from their venue to the Ford Auditorium. However I have heard of no further action. The organ seems reasonably doomed. -Database Manager
2008-06-28 - Updated through information adapted from <i>E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List</i>, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn: <br><i>Inaugurated by Marcel Dupré in the fall of 1957; four taxi horns added in 1958, #A-447; extant; Hauptwerk and Positiv on movable platforms; building has been razed.</i> -Database Manager
2009-07-05 - Updated through online information from Richard Ditewig. -- The building has not been razed; it still stands. -Database Manager
2011-03-04 - Updated through online information from Brian Ventura. -- The organ will be removed in the spring of 2011 by Helderop Pipe Organs. It will be stored for a future installation. Ford Auditorium will be demolished later in 2011. Main organ and portable are in good condition. The console has water damage but will be restored. -Database Manager
2011-07-02 - According to an article by the Associated Press (7-2-11), the main organ is currently being removed from the building by volunteers with a deadline to have it completely out of the building by July 5. The plan is to have it be restored by Helderop and then installed at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Detroit. The Portative organ was already removed from the building, but it will not be part of the St. Aloysius project. -Database Manager
2013-10-02 - Hauptwerk and Positiv have 56 notes -Database Manager
Aeolian-Skinner Archives via Allen Kinzey Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Detroit, Michigan
Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium
Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Inc. Opus 1324 1955 3 manuals, 51 stops, 69 ranks
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GREAT ORGAN (II) HAUPTWERK (II, portable)
8' Principal 61 16' Quintade 56
8' Bourdon 61 8' Prinzipal 56
4' Octave 61 8' Holzgedackt 56
2 2/3' Twelfth 61 8' Spitzflöte 56
2' Fifteenth 61 4' Praestant 56
IV Fourniture 244 2 2/3' Quinte 56
III Cymbel 183 2' Super Oktav 56
16' Bombarde 61 IV Mixtur 224
8' Trompette Harmonique 61 8' Krummhorn PO
4' Clairon Harmonique 61
POSITIV (I, portable)
SWELL ORGAN (III) 8' Rohrflöte 56
16' Rohrgedackt 68 8' Spitzflöte HW
8' Viola Pomposa 68 4' Koppelflöte 56
8' Viola Celeste 68 2 2/3' Nasat 56
8' Rohrgedackt 12 2' Oktav 56
4' Prestant 68 1 3/5' Terz 56
4' Flauto Traverso 68 1' Sifflöte 56
2' Octavin 61 III Zimbel 168
IV Plein Jeu 244 8' Krummhorn 56
16' Contre Hautbois 68
8' Trompette 68 PEDAL (portable)
4' Clairon 68 16' Gedacktbass 12 HW
Tremulant 16' Quintade HW
8' Spitzprinzipal 32
CHOIR ORGAN (I) 8' Holzgedackt HW
8' Spitzviol 68 4' Choralbass 12
8' Flûte à Chéminee 68 4' Holzgedackt HW
8' Dolcan 68 2' Holzgedackt HW
8' Dolcan Celeste 68 16' Krummhorn 12 PO
4' Nachthorn 68 8' Krummhorn PO
2' Blockflöte 61 4' Krummhorn PO
II Sesquialtera 122
8' Rohrschalmei 68
4' Petite Clairon 68
Tremulant
PEDAL ORGAN
16' Contre Basse 32
16' Montre GT
16' Bourdon 32
16' Rohrgedackt SW
8' Octave 32
8' Bourdon 12
8' Rohrgedackt SW
4' Choralbass 12
4' Bourdon 12
V Mixtur 160
32' Contre Bombarde 12 GT
16' Posaune 32
16' Bombarde GT
16' Contre Hautbois SW
8' Trumpet 12
4' Clairon 12
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2013-10-03]
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