Better Pipe Organ Database

Bennett Organ Co. Opus 276 (1912)

First Presbyterian Church
215 5th Ave. S.
Lewistown, MT

Images

1925 - Church exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Vintage postcard, submitted by Jim Stettner/Jim Stettner)

Consoles

Main

Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Left
2 manuals
11 stops
10 registers
3 divisions
Key action Type: Electrical
Stop action Type: Electrical
Stop layout Type: Stop Keys Above Top Manual
Manual compass: 61 notes
Pedal compass: 32 notes
Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
Has crescendo
Combination action: Adjustable Combination Pistons
Has combination thumb pistons
Has coupler toe pistons
Has tutti toe pistons

Notes

2009-02-15 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The organ is installed in a chamber on the right side of the chancel, but a large 5-sectional facade of 45 gold painted dummy pipes arranged: 8-5-19-5-8 spans the full width of the chancel front wall. This includes the first 17 pipes of the Great 8' Open Diapason, which are the only unexpressive pipes. The organ was originally tubular-pneumatic, and was electrified by George Graham of Spokane, Washington ca. 1951 without tonal changes. But the present console is believed to have replaced an originally attached keydesk. The specifics given above regarding size, placement, stops, ranks, etc. are based on the extant console from that time. Documented October 7, 1996. -Database Manager

Stoplist

Stoplist copied from the console October 7, 1996 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

Lewistown, Montana
First Presbyterian Church

The BENNETT ORGAN CO. (Bennett-System), Opus 276, 1912
George A. Graham, ca. 1951 - Electrification

GREAT (Expressive)
   8'   Open Diapason               61
   8'   Melodia                     61
   8'   Dulciana                    61
   4'   Flute d'Amour               61
        blank
   Great Unison Off
   Great to Great 4'

SWELL (Expressive)
   8'  Stopped Diapason             61
   8'  Viola                        61
   8'  Aeoline                      61
   4'  Flute Harmonic               61
       blank
   8'  Orchestral Oboe              61
       Tremolo
   Swell to Swell 16'
   Swell Unison Off
   Swell to Swell 4'

PEDAL (Expressive)
   16' Bourdon                      32
   8'  Flute                        12

COUPLERS
   Swell to Pedal                  8,4
   Great to Pedal                  8,4
   Swell to Great               16,8,4

FINGER PISTONS
   Swell & Pedal                 1 - 4
   Great & Pedal                 1 - 4

TOE STUDS
   Gr. to Ped. Rev.              (rev)
   Sforzando                     (rev) 

PEDAL MOVEMENTS
   Expression                   (bal.)
   Crescendo                    (bal.)

ACTION: E-P primary to ventil chests
VOICES: 10
STOPS: 11
RANKS: 10
PIPES: 593

NOTES
The organ has a large facade of 45 gold-painted pipes that includes the
first 17 pipes of the Great 8' Open Diapason. These are the only pipes in
the organ which are unexpressive. The facade contains three flats of pipes
divided by two towers and is arranged: 8-5-19-5-8.  The rest of the pipes
are housed in a chamber which is located on the right side of the choir
gallery at the front of the sanctuary. The chamber speaks across the choir
gallery/chancel and not directly into the sanctuary. The console is located
in the front, left corner of the choir gallery, and the organist faces
across the gallery with the congregation to their right.

The organ as originally built was tubular-pneumatic and had an attached
keydesk. A plaque on the 1951 console reads:

          In Loving Memory of
        ELLEN FERGUS ROMANSTAD
              1873 - 1951

It seems likely the electrification was done as a memorial in 1951 or
shortly thereafter.

 [Received on line from James R. Stettner June 15, 2009.]

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