W. W. Kimball Co. (1901)

ca. 1901-1911 - Alternate console angle, organ case, and organist John J. McClellan (Photograph from an archival source: Postcards copyrighted 1911, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1901-1915 - Detached console in action (Photograph from an archival source: Tabernacle archival photo, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1901-1911 - View of detached console slightly from the side (Photograph from an archival source: Postcards copyrighted 1911, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1901 - Detached console, organ case, and "1901 / WELCOME / UTAH" celebratory signage (Photograph from an archival source: Postcard mailed 1907 / photographed 1901 or slightly later, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1901 - Detached console (tubular pneumatic) (Photograph from an archival source: Postcard mailed 1907 / photographed 1901 or slightly later, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1910 - Closeup of console, relative to former key desk location - John J. McClellan is seated at console across from conductor Evan Stephens (Photograph from an archival source: Postcard photo ca. 1910, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

ca. 1910 - Organ in tabernacle with choir - John J. McClellan is seated at console, across from conductor Evan Stephens (Photograph from an archival source: Postcard photo ca. 1910, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

1901 - Former inset console location, and new Kimball detached keydesk near pulpit [covered] (Photograph from an archival source: BYU archival photo taken by Charles R. Savage, ca. 1901, submitted by J. A. Hefner/J. A. Hefner)

1901 - Organ in tabernacle, with keydesk detached and moved near pulpit - note "1901 / WELCOME / UTAH" celebratory signage (Photograph by BYU archival photo taken by Charles R. Savage, ca. 1901/J. A. Hefner)

Unknown - Organ Case (ca. 1910) (Vintage postcard in the collection of James R. Stettner/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Notes

2022-08-14 - The case was modified, but it did not acquire the side "wings" until the Austin revision in 1915. The 1900-1901 Kimball work changed the organ to tubular-pneumatic action, and the console was detached, moving to a position near the pulpit, facing the conductor. This was done at the behest of organist John J. McClellan. This organ was also one of the first pipe organs to be recorded, save for a few cylinder recordings previously, and it was possibly the first recorded on *disc* in late August/early September 1910. Some of these can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwEaK_h6n44 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUKc_GzGSnk [note: "McClennan" is a misspelling] Columbia Graphophone Company recording engineer Alexander Hausmann had worked with McClellan and choir director Evan Stephens to achieve the best results possible, as recording technology was entirely mechanical and did not record large ensembles or complex pipe organ tones well. Most "organ" accompaniments were simple harmoniums, and Edison's cylinder attempt ]"Abide with Me", played by Albert Benzler] had a small studio orchestra playing to flesh out the sound! Per McClellan paper by Annie Compton at https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5613&context=etd and Tabernacle organ history at https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/about/organs/organ-information/tabernacle.html with recording info at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2010/09/the-first-mormon-tabernacle-choir-recordings-1910?lang=eng & https://issuu.com/utah10/docs/uhq_volume79_2011_number2/s/10374299 -J. A. Hefner

Stoplist

Typed stoplist from Paul Slaughter Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

Websites

Related Pipe Organ Database Entries

Better Pipe Organ Database