2007-11-15 - Identified from factory documents and publications courtesy of Stephen Schnurr. -Database Manager
2018-12-04 - Updated by Shawn P. Keith, the builder. <br> <br>Broken up for parts ca. 1999 when the building was condemned due to structural issues. -Database Manager
2021-10-30 - According to the records of First Friends Meeting, this instrument was originally erected in the South Eighth Street Meetinghouse in 1917. In 1927 it was rebuilt by M.P. Moller and installed in the First Friends Meetinghouse. By 1981 it was estimated the instrument needed $2800 in repairs. When the work was completed in December of that year, the cost had risen to $3856. A decade later the organ once again needed extensive repairs. It failed to hold a tune well, and some keys, stops and pistons were completely "out of order." Keltic Pipe Organ Service of Indianapolis, Indiana, estimated repairs would cost $200,000 for a complete renovation; $60,000 for a minimal renovation; and $12,600 or basic repairs. The Meeting at this time was having discussions about the future of their building and the possibility of constructing a new meetinghouse. So they agreed to the minimal repairs for $1800, which included releathering three sets of stops. By the mid 1990s the Meeting was serious about construction of a new building as the current building, which had been built in the early 1800s and enlarged in the 1900s, was beginning to show serious structural issues. Due to extreme high cost of repairs to the historic structure, it was deemed more efficient to construct a new building. For several years discussions were held between the Organ Committee and the Monthly Meeting about the fate of the Moller pipe organ. A called Monthly Meeting in October (year not given), approved the removal and storage of the organ. The Keltic Pipe Organ Services removed the instrument with the help of 28 volunteers. The original bid of $5900 was reduced by $1000 due to the number of volunteers assisting the two Keltic technicians. Fred First Ford dealership of Richmond, IN, provided two trucks and Earlham College provided one truck to transport the organ pieces to dry, heated storeage space provided by the Joiner and Doddridge families. These families agreed to store the organ for one year. Keltic Pipe Organ Services gave an estimate of $73,202 to renovate and reinstall the instrument with new wiring, if the Meeting provided proper space to house the pipes and wind mechanisms in the new building. It was at this point that communication between the Organ Committee and the Monthly Meeting began to break down and there were some miscommunications. It was the understanding of the Organ Committee that the instrument was to be reinstalled in the new building. However, the Monthly Meeting began to investigate alternatives including both Allen and Rodgers digital electronic instruments, and a hybrid instrument using some of the Moller pipes. In April 1996, it was decided to purchase a Rodgers digital computer organ with MIDI at a cost of $4500. A large sum donated by a member of the congregation for refurbishing and reinstallation of the pipe organ was returned due to this decision. However in October 1997 it is recorded that due to lack of funds, and faced with a tight budget, expense of construction of the new building and costs of moving to the new building; it was decided that grand piano would serve the congregation in the new building. In 1999, the Monthly Meeting agreed to the sale of the remaining parts of the Moller organ to the Burgess-Keith Pipe Organ Company. In September 2001, the Meeting purchased an Ahlborn-Galanti digital computer organ from Ted Young Pianos and Organs of Liberty, Indiana. Source: "Searching for the Sacred Center: First Friends Meeting, Richmond, Indiana, 1942 to 2009. by Lincoln Blake. Published by Whitewater Monthly Meeting, Richmond, IN. 2009. -Timothy E. Conyers
Stoplist copied from the factory specifications via the OHS Archives Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Richmond, Indiana
First Friends Church
Möller Op. 4746 1927 3/13
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GREAT (encl w/CH) SWELL
8' Open Diapason 61 16' Bourdon 61
8' Grosse Floete 61 16' Contra Viol tc
8' Violoncello 61 8' Open Diapason 73
8' Melodia 61 8' Stopped Diapason 12
8' Dulciana 61 8' Viole d'Orchestre 73
4' Flute d'Amour 61 8' Salicional 73
Tremulant GT/CH 8' Vox Celeste 61
Sub 4' Violina (Salic) --
Unison Off 4' Orchestral Flute 12
Super 2 2/3' Nazard Flute 7
2' Flautino 5
CHOIR 1 3/5' Tierce --
8' Cornopean 73
8' Viola da Gamba GT 8' Vox Humana 61
8' Concert Flute GT Tremulant
8' Dulciana GT Sub
4' Flute (Rohr) GT Unison Off
Tremulant GT/CH Super
Sub
Unison Off PEDAL
Super
16' Open Diapason 12 GT a
16' Bourdon SW
10 2/3' Quint SW
8' Octave GT a
a from GT Gross Floete 8' Flauto Dolce SW
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