2008-05-11 - Identified through on-line information from Shawn Sanders. -- Organ was originally installed in Settegast residence at West Gray and Milam Streets in Houston, moved to Kirby Drive location circa 1954. Facility closed in 2007 and owners chose not to preserve instrument in another location. Organ was donated in whole to Christ the King Episcopal Church in Humble in early 2008. Organ is in storage pending renovations to accommodate it in the church and plans are to have it playable once again by Advent 2008. In the 1980's the Swell Chest was replaced with a unit from Organ Supply Industries due to water damage on the original Pilcher chest. In the 1990's, at the request of the managing director of the facility, a new unit chest was added to remove the upper work of the Lieblich unit from the original chest and stabilize the wind on same. The new chest also provides space for a unit 4' Octave to be playable on the Great manual. Soon thereafter a second electro-pneumatic chest was added with a new Clarinet and brought the Vox Humana from the Echo Division in the rear of the facility to the front chamber, with both stops playable on the Swell manual. At this time a Peterson switching system was added, replacing the Pilcher system which had become unreliable. The final additions made to the instrument included a unit Trumpet, playable on the Swell and an electronic 32' stop, thus assuring a proper send off for those whose service was played on the organ. In 2006, the Echo Division reservoir self destructed and due to lack of interest by management at the time, the remaining Melodia unit and Chimes fell silent. An updated history will be submitted upon the completion of installation. -Database Manager
2009-12-24 - Updated through on-line information from Shawn Sanders. -- As stated before, Opus 1533 was donated in whole to Christ the King Episcopal Church, Atascocita/Humble, TX in early 2008. The instrument was installed in the rear gallery and is now playing as of March 2009. Opus 1049 was also donated to Christ the King Episcopal Church, Atascocita/Humble, TX and portions, mainly the facade, were incoporated into Opus 1533. Due to the now limited capacity of space in chamber and stops on the console, two ranks are being stored for future consideration. The only duplication between the two instruments was an 8' Stopped Diapason and a 4' Melodia. The organ, combined Opus 1533 & Opus 1049 now boasts 21 ranks and 25 Deagan tubular chimes, playable from the console of Opus 1533, with Peterson EMP modifications. Three 61 note manual divisions, Great, Swell, Solo (floating) and 32 note Pedal. All other prior updates on these instruments are accurate as best as can be determined. Peterson system was updated in summer of 2009 to accomodate additional stops from Holy Cross (Opus 1049) into the Settegast (Opus 1533) instrument. The organ is installed in the rear gallery of the church in a chamber, with a facade (from Opus 1049). The facade has 31 speaking notes from the Open Diapason 8' and the Dulciana 8'. Both of these stops are non-expressive. There are also two facade towers of non-speaking pipes. A stop list can be provided if you desire. As for the fate of Opus 1049, the church was closed in 2006. The console, little more than a facade itself (two keyboards stop rail and pedals stuck in a hole in the wall), was in poor condition and was not saved intact. The Swell Chest (original Pilcher) had been severely deteriorated and vandalized by rodents and insects. Remains on the property at this time. The facade chests were retained for use at Chrsit the King. The Great Chest were direct valve chests that had replaced the original Pilcher chest at some point, most likely after suffering water damage. These chests were also left at Holy Cross as useless. All duplicate pipework has been stored for future use. -Database Manager
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