Better Pipe Organ Database

Tellers-Sommerhoff Organ Co. Opus 123 (1917)

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Pittsburgh (Sharpsburg), PA

Images


2017 - Nave (Photograph by Pawsburgh, submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)

2017 - Facade in rear gallery (Photograph by Pawsburgh , submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)

2017 - Facade closeup (Photograph by Pawsburgh, submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)

2017 - Nave and organ loft (Photograph by Pawsburgh , submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew Scanlon)

2017 - Console (Photograph by Pawsburgh, submitted by Andrew Scanlon/Andrew)

Unknown - Church Exterior (Photograph by Russell Weismann/Database Manager)

Unknown - Nave, Gallery, and Pipe Facades (Photograph by Russell Weismann/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Notes

2011-04-04 - Updated through on-line information from Joseph Tuttle. -- The organ appears to have been transplanted from the previous structure (1889) to the current (1917). It was modified by Organcraft of Pittsburgh in the early to mid 1980s with new console components and a new Great Trumpet among them, and the removal of divisional ventil controls at the console. The instrument sits in twin cases with dummy facades in the rear gallery on either side of the rose window. Currently the organ is in a very poor working condition with barely half of the stops being fully playable. Much of the Swell and the entire Choir division are silent. Most pipes, even those originally scroll tuned, have been inappropriately cone tuned and hence heavily damaged over the years. A comprehensive refurbishment rebuild is needed to return the organ to full service. -Database Manager

2011-07-11 - Updated through on-line information from Jeffrey A. Donnelly. -- On 7-July-2011, writing on the back of the Swell box has identified this instrument's origin in Erie, Pennsylvania and is signed by Albert Sommerhof at age 19, dated 21-September-1917, thus making this instrument original to the building in which it is housed. The facade is made up of both speaking and non-speaking pipes. Those that speak are the Great Open Diapason 16'. <br>It was renovated by Organcraft of Pittsburgh sometime in the 1980s. The organ is original to its 1917 state with the exception of the Great Trumpet 8' (likely replaced by Organcraft). The Great Nazard 2 2/3', Fifteenth 2' and Mixture III are possible additions, as these ranks are located on top of the choir box. Currently, approximately 2/3 of the organ is playable. The Great is fully playable, as are most of the swell ranks. The choir division is largely silent, but strangely more notes are starting to speak little by little. The Pedal ranks are all playable with the exception of some heavily damaged pipes in the Violone 16'. Most of the pipes are scroll tuned but were improperly cone tuned at some point, but are not beyond repair. Several of the stoppers in the wood ranks are in need of new leather. The leather on all reservoirs is in very good condition. <br>The pastor and music director of the parish have taken significant interest in the organ's condition and are doing as much as possible to bring the organ to a point where it is completely playable. -Database Manager

2012-02-20 - Updated through online information from Joseph Tuttle. -- Shipping tags were located on the backs of the swell boxes with the name "Tellers-Sommerhof" on them, and the name Albert Sommerhof and the year 1917 were written in pencil on the back of the swell division. After further inspection it has become clear that the instrument was original to this building, not moved or rebuilt from a previous location. There have been alterations made over the years, presumably by Tellers or another local company, including the addition of the Great upperwork. Most recent alterations were by Organcraft in 1980 with the replacement of the Great Trumpet and the patching in of newer stop controls in the console. -Database Manager

2015-02-03 - Updated through online information from Joseph Tuttle. -Database Manager

2015-07-18 - Updated through online information from Joseph Tuttle. -Database Manager

Stoplist

Stoplist taken from the console 7-July-2011 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (now part of St. Juan Diego Parish)
Sharpsburg, PA (north suburb of Pittsburgh)

1917 Felgemaker Organ (signed by Albert Sommerhof)
1980's modifications by Organcraft

Three-manual rolltop console, angled draw knob stop jambs
Pneumatic combination controls

Great: unenclosed, right chamber
16' Open Diapason, metal (facade)
8' Diapason, metal
8' Doppel Flote, wood
8' Gamba, metal
8' Dulciana, metal
4' Principal, metal
4' Harmonic Flute, wood
2 2/3 Twelfth, metal
2' Fifteenth, metal
III rks Mixture
8' Trumpet (likely a replacement by Organcraft)
Great to Great 16
Unison Off
Great to Great 4

Swell: enclosed, left chamber
16' Bourdon, wood (1-12 outside the chamber)
8' Diapason, metal
8' Stopped Diapason, wood
8' Salicional, metal
8' Aeoline, metal
4' Hohl Flute, wood
2 2/3 Nasard, metal (offset chest mounted above the main chest)
2' Flageolet, metal (pipes stamped as \"Piccolo\")
8' Cornopean
8' Oboe
8' Vox Humana (offset chest mounted above the main chest)
Swell to Swell 16
Unison Off
Swell to Swell 4

Choir: enclosed, right chamber, behind Great division
8' Geigen Principal, metal
8' Melodia, wood
8' Dolce, metal
4' Rohr Flute, metal
2' Piccolo, metal
8' Clarinet
Choir to Choir 16
Unison Off
Choir to Choir 4

Pedal, left and right chambers:
16' Diapason, wood
16' Bourdon, wood
16' Violone, metal (1-12 are Haskelled pipes)
8' Principal, metal
8' Flute, wood
8' Cello (borrowed from Violone 16')
4' Super Octave (borrowed from Principal 8')
Pedal to Pedal 8

Couplers:
Great to Pedal 8, 4
Swell to Pedal 8, 4
Choir to Pedal 8, 4
Swell to Great 16, 8, 4
Choir to Great 16, 8, 4
Swell to Choir 16, 8, 4

Pistons:
5 General
5 Great; 5 Swell; 5 Choir; 3 Pedal
Sforzando (reversible toe stud)
Great to Pedal 8' (reversible toe stud)
Pedal to Pedal 8' (reversible toe stud)
General Cancel

[Received from Jeffrey A. Donnelly 2011-07-11.]

Stoplist taken from console April 3, 2011 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
Sharpsburg, PA
15215

1890 Philip Wirsching Organ
1980's modifications by Organcraft

Three-manual rolltop console, angled draw knob stop jambs
Pneumatic combination controls

Great: unenclosed
16' Open Diapason (resultant)
8' Diapason
8' Doppel Floete
8' Gamba
8' Dulciana
4' Principal
4' Harmonic Flute
2 2/3 Twelfth
2' Fifteenth
III rks Mixture
8' Trumpet (new)
Great to Great 16
Unison Off
Great to Great 4

Swell: enclosed
16' Bourdon
8' Diapason
8' Stopped Diapason
8' Salicional
8' Aeoline (Celeste)
4' Hohl Flute
2 2/3 Nasard
2' Flageolet
8' Cornopean
8' Oboe
8' Vox Humana
Swell to Swell 16
Unison Off
Swell to Swell 4

Choir: enclosed
8' Geigen Diapason
8' Melodia
8' Dolce
4' Rohr Flute
2' Piccolo
8' Clarinet
Choir to Choir 16
Unison Off
Choir to Choir 4

Pedal:
16' Diapason 
16' Bourdon
16' Violone
8' Principal
8' Flute
8' Cello
4' Super Octave
Pedal to Pedal 8

Couplers:
Great to Pedal 8, 4
Swell to Pedal 8, 4
Choir to Pedal 8, 4
Swell to Great 16, 8, 4
Choir to Great 16, 8, 4
Swell to Choir 16, 8, 4

Pistons:
5 General
5 Divisional (3 in Pedal)
Sforzando (toestud)
Gt-Ped (toestud)
Ped-Ped (toestud)


[Received from Joseph Tuttle 2011-04-04.]

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