2008-03-15 - New pipes (Photograph by Robert Overstreet/Database Manager)
2008-03-15 - New pipes (Photograph by Robert Overstreet/Database Manager)
2008-05-15 - Identified through information from Robert Overstreet: <br>At about that time [Editor's note: unspecified in the original letter] I approached our Vestry about funds for organ work and because of money restrictions (poor Parish) we began a series of Sun. Spring organ concerts supported by a committee other than myself which organized a lavish sit-down dinner at the local Hotel as well a silent auction. With all of these activities and money from the concert I organized we raised an unexpected amount of money and therefore no help needed from the Vestry. These concerts have been going on for six years at present and to date [2008] we have spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 on the organ and have maintained an ongoing organ fund also. (at the age now of 82, I;m begining to wind down activities such as this). <br>Our first upgrade was the Klann solid state combination action with an enlarged and improved new tabliture board. This would allow for further expansion of the organ at some time. Meantime, Mr. Wm. Degothseir took over the business after the owner died and we began to think of additions to the organ. At this time all of the original electronics were removed including the speaker cabinets leaving us with much additional space for new pipe additions. We decided on a full scale 8 ft Oboe and then a II rank mixture full scale. Our thinking was that with an organ of only 4 ranks a III rank Mixture might overpower the small organ. Adding the oboe would compliment the wonderful 8ft Moeller trumpet. These two additions were installed over a period of two years after which we began to plan for improving the console and eliminating especially the leaking pneumatics. At this time Mr. Degothseir of Upper Darby, Pa suggested installing the Peterson diode matrix switching/relay system; our largest cost of $14,500. Again we planned two concerts and with money already in our Music Fund, the Vestry approved spending that along with raising money from another concert and dinner. Mr. Degothseir and associate did the entire installation in one week, making up new wiring harnesses in his shop in Upper Darby so as to save down time. The organ has now great variety of registration creating (for a small organ) a thrilling sound in a beautiful acoustically wonderful old building. Changes were made in the Tabliture layout with sw. 4ft, gt. 4ft, sw. 16ft, gt. 16ft, ---all as additions. Coupling to the pedal was added from both manuals including the 8 ft trumpet and the oboe and a 32ft resultant was added which had been a part of the original organ. The organ also now has a Zimbelstern of tuned bells. The organ chamber is quite full now and no new additions are planned even though I would like to have had an addition to the 8 ft trumpet in the pedal. You might say that at my age I'm "running out of steam". I attempted to retire sometime ago, but circumstances at the church didn't permit it so two of us are now sharing Sundays and other church events. -Database Manager
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