Mason Methodist Church
2710 N. Madison Street
Tacoma, WA
Images
2010-02-01 - Church interior (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Choir space and organ chambers (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Choir space and organ chambers (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Choir space and organ chambers (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console casework (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console detail: Great & Choir stopjamb (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console detail: Swell & Pedal stopjamb (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console detail: Coupler rail (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Builder's nameplate (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
2010-02-01 - Console detail: Pedalboard, toe studs, and pedal movements (Photograph by Michael Way/Database Manager)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
- Console position: Movable Console
- 3 manuals
- 30 stops
- 37 registers
- 4 divisions
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Drawknobs in Vertical Rows on Angled Jambs
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Combination action: 'Hold and Set' Pneumatic/Mechanical
- Has combination thumb pistons
- Has coupler toe pistons
- Has tutti thumb pistons
- Has tutti toe pistons
Notes
2008-03-18 - Identified 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> Relocation to new building of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1096 (1946). Some alterations through 1982.</i> -Database Manager
2010-02-04 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The organ is installed in chambers in a musician's space on the left side of the sanctuary towards the front. The sanctuary has no carpeting or pew cushions, and all hard surfaces, so the acoustics are great (if not even a bit too much). The console has been placed on casters, though it's still air-operated. Some of the original ranks have been re-pitched, and other ranks/stops have been added. It's still mostly original, though. -Database Manager
2011-11-01 - Updated through online information from Jeff Orr. -- The organ was built and installed by Aeolian-Skinner under the supervision of West Coast representatives Stanley Williams and Thomas Gagan. When a new sanctuary was built, the organ was moved into its current location under the supervision of Mr. Gagan. A 3 rank mixture was added to the Great Division. In addition the 4' Rohr Schalmei in the Pedal Division has been removed and replaced with a 1951 Wick's 16' and 8' Posaune. The electonic 32' Contra Violone has been deactivated. In addition the Chimes have been moved back to a Great drawknob and also reconnected to the Pedal Division, as was called for in the original specification. -Database Manager
2015-07-04 - Updated through online information from Dan Waddell. -- The 32' Contra Violone is electronic. Rodgers components, built by Jason Grable and installed by Homer Johnson. Also, the unit 8' diapason on the pedal was extend to 32 notes by Homer Johnson. I was organist there in c. 1974-1983. -Database Manager
2015-07-04 - Updated through online information from Dan Waddell. -- I was organist from 1975-1983. Some of the complaints about volume were (sort of) fixed by reversing the swell & choir shutter so they open pointing up. This gives a less direct sound to the house. <br>The organ was moved from the old style sanctuary (wood, carpet, multiple aisles, etc) to the new church by Felix Schoenstein (SF) intact - no voicing thus the somewhat 'in your face' impression. <br>Further, the electronic 32 CViolone was designed to support the Unda Maris but, when the 16 Diapason was drawn, the volume was increased to support the full organ. <br>So much to remember....... I should have written it down! -Database Manager
Stoplist
Stoplist copied from the console February 1, 2010 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Tacoma, Washington
Mason United Methodist Church
Aeolian Skinner Organ Co., Opus 1091, 1946
Unknown Builder, 1961 - Moving and reinstallation
Unknown Builder, after 1961 - Tonal additions/changes
GREAT SWELL (Expressive)
16 Quintaten 61 blank
8 Diapason 61 8 Salicional 73
8 Spitz Principal 61 8 Voix Celeste (tc) 61
8 Bourdon 61 8 Stopped Diapason 73
4 Principal 61 4 Geigen 73
2-2/3 Quint 61 4 Flute Harmonique 73
2 Super Octave 61 III Plein Jeu [15-19-22] 183
blank [III Mixture] 183 8 Trumpet 73
blank 8 Oboe 73
8 Vox Humana 61
Tremulant
CHOIR (Expressive)
8 Viola 73 Swell 16
8 Concert Flute 73 Swell 4
8 Dulciana 73
8 Unda Maris (tc) 61
blank drawknob PEDAL
4 Koppel Flute 73 32 Contra Violone ??
2-2/3 Nasard 61 16 Contre Basse 32
2 Blockflöte 61 16 Bourdon 32
8 Clarinet 73 16 Quintadena (Gt) --
Tremulant 16 Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw) --
8 Octave 12
Choir 16 8 Flute 12
Choir 4 4 Super Octave 12
blank [Zimbelstern]
4 Rohr Schalmei 32
COUPLERS FINGER PISTONS
Swell to Pedal 8,4 General 1 - 5
Great to Pedal 8 Swell 1 - 5
Choir to Pedal 8,4 Great 1 - 5
Gr. To Ped. (rev)
Swell to Great 16,8,4 Choir 1 - 5
Choir to Great 16,8,4 Pedal 1 - 5
Sforz. (rev)
Swell to Choir 16,8,4 [Set] [unlabeled]
Cancel
PEDAL MOVEMENTS (Labeled; l - r)
Choir Expression (bal.) TOE STUDS
Swell Expression (bal.) General 1 - 5
Crescendo Pedal 1 - 5
MISC. CONTROLS FOOT LEVERS
Chimes [as pistons] P / F Gr. To Ped. (rev)
Sforz. (rev)
ACTION: E-P pitman VOICES: 28 STOPS: 35 RANKS: 32 PIPES: 2,033
& unit (inc. Zimbelstern)
NOTES
The organ was originally built for the congregation’s previous edifice,
and replaced a ca. 1910, tubular-pneumatic W.W. Kimball.
In 1961, the organ was reinstalled in the present edifice by an unknown
person or firm. It is not presently known if any tonal changes or
additions were made at that time - but subsequent changes and additions
have been made.
On the Great, one of the two blank drawknobs controls an added III
Mixture, which, while of the same starting composition as the original
Swell III Plein Jeu, breaks differently. The Chimes P/F pistons located
atop the Great right key cheek now function as a chimes On (P) and Off
(F) switch.
On the Swell, the original 4 Geigen now plays an 8’ register - perhaps
the Geigen with an added bottom octave.
No tonal alterations have been made to the Choir division.
On the Pedal, a 32 Violone (believed to be electronic) has been added, as
has a 4 Rohr Schalmei (which sadly doesn’t fit the tonal scheme very
well). The blank drawknob activates an added Zimbelstern.
Both of the Tremulants have been set theatrically fast.
There are no Unison Off functions on the console, and the Swell and Choir
intra-manual couplers are located with the inter-manual and pedal
couplers in the rail over the Swell manual - rather than as drawknobs
within their respective divisions.
SOURCES: E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List, compiled by Allen Kinzey
and Sand Lawn; extant organ
[Received on line from James R. Stettner February 04, 2010.]
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