Unknown - Church Exterior, ca. 1913. ((ca. 1913). Vintage postcard in the collection of James R. Stettner/Database Manager)
2007-08-23 - Identified by James R. Stettner through information from the Estey Opus List, published in The Boston Organ Club newsletter, 1973-1979. -Database Manager
2010-10-01 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The organ was contracted through Sherman Clay & Co of San Francisco. The contract was signed July 29th, 1910, and the organ was to be installed and ready for use by or before February 1, 1911. The cost of the organ was $3,400.00. Interestingly, the contract actually specifies a 32-note pedalboard - which is unique as most Esteys of this period were still 30-notes. The foot trundles for Great 1 and Great 2, and Swell 1 and Swell 2 were fixed. These were evidently changed within a few years of the installation to some sort of adjustable combination action. The organ was electrified and enlarged in 1958. -Database Manager
Stoplist copied from the original contract in the church archives Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Tacoma, Washington
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Estey Organ Co., Op. 848, 1911 - Original Specifications
GREAT COUPLERS
8 Grt. Open Diapason 61 Swell to Pedal [8]
8 Grt. Melodia 61 Great to Pedal [8]
8 Grt. Dulciana 61
4 Grt. Octave 61 Swell to Great [8]
Swell to Great 8ves [4]
SWELL (Expressive)
16 Sw. Bourdon 61 FOOT LEVERS (Fixed Combinations)
8 Sw. Violin Diapason 61 Swell Piano – 8' SD & 8' Sal.
8 Sw. Stopped Diapason 61
8 Sw. Salicional 61 Swell Forte – 8, 8, 8, 4, 8.
4 Sw. Flute Harmonic 61
8 Sw. Oboe & Bassoon 61 Rev [Great to Pedal] (rev)
Sw. Tremolo
Great Piano – 8' Mel. & 8' Dulc.
Great Forte – 8, 8, 8, 4.
PEDAL
16 Ped. Bourdon 32
PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Swell Expression (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.)
ACTION: Tubular-Pneumatic key and stop to ventil chests
VOICES: 11
STOPS: 11
RANKS: 11
PIPES: 642
NOTES
The organ was contracted with Sherman Clay & Co. of San Francisco, and the
contract was signed July 29th, 1910. The organ was to be installed and
ready for use by or before February 1, 1911. The cost of the organ was
$3,400.00 – payable as $1,000.00 down with the signing of the contract,
and the remaining balance of $2,400.00 due upon successful completion of
the organ and acceptance by the church. The organ also seems to have been
a gift of Mrs. Mary P. Crocker; for it is her name that appears on the
cover of the submitted Estey specification, and she also signed the
contract as one of three signing as the party of the second part (the
Church), and again as the sole named party of the third part.
Sherman Clay & Co. also made several agreements for potential problem
resolutions at their own expense. And this seems to have come to bear
upon them. For in a document dated April 15, 1912 they agree to replace
the blower they installed if too noisy or of an inadequate air supply with
a new blower as previously agreed. This seems to suggest that they had
installed a used blower at the time of installation. They further agreed
to replace the non-adjustable Foot Levers included in error with
adjustable pistons.
The organ had an attached keydesk and case made from native wood, and part
of the Great 8' Open Diapason was in the facade. The non-zinc metal
pipework was to be made of spotted metal with not less than 45% tin
content.
The contract called for an 8' Gross Flute and an 8' Gemshorn on the Great.
But beside these stops on the specification the names 8' Melodia and 8'
Dulciana are penciled-in. And indeed, the pipes installed are labeled as
such.
The organ remained in its original configuration for 47 years until it was
rebuilt and electrified by Balcom and Vaughan of Seattle as their opus 636
in 1958. The original primaries were electrified, and the organ was
installed in side-by-side chambers. The organ was also converted to
3-manuals with the Great and Choir sharing a chamber. A Gemshorn was added
to the Choir with the original Dulciana becoming an Unda Maris. And a Voix
Celeste was added to the Swell. The Stopped Diapason was placed on a new
unit chest and made to speak at five pitches: 16', 8', 4', 2-2/3', and 2'.
And the original Swell 4' Flute Harmonic was moved to the Great as an 8'
stop with a used 8' stopped bass added. Chimes were also added to the
Great.
SOURCES
Estey opus list; original documents in the church archives; Balcom and
Vaughan opus list; extant, altered organ.
[Received from James R. Stettner 2010-10-01.]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.