Better Pipe Organ Database

Welte-Mignon Corporation [Welte Organ Co.] Opus 268 (1928)

Residence: Albert M. & Bessie Johnson "Scotty's Castle": Great Hall
123 Scottys Castle Road
Death Valley, CA

Images

Unknown - Console (Vintage Postcard, courtesy of T. Bradford Willis, DDS (1970s)/Database Manager)

1928-12-31 - Great Hall with console, roll-player, and organ grille (Library of Congress photo in the private collection of Jim Lewis/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Organ type: Horseshoe
Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Right
3 manuals
Key action Type: Electrical
Stop action Type: Electrical
Stop layout Type: Stop Keys in Horseshoe Curves
Manual compass: 61 notes
Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Details Unknown)
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
Has crescendo
Combination action: Adjustable Combination Pistons
Has combination thumb pistons

Notes

2009-02-20 - Identified through online information from Jim Lewis. -- Three-manuals. Electric action. Horseshoe console with separate player console. House is open for tours. -Database Manager

2009-07-13 - Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- Made from the 10-rank Philadelphia Welte Studio organ, plus 4 ranks added by Welte for this installation. Reportedly cost $16,000.00. The organ had a Multi-Control 10-roll changer as well as a single roll player in an ornately carved cabinet. In 1935, former Welte employee Lloyd Davey -- who had installed the organ originally -- added a Wurlitzer 6-roll changer which played Wurlitzer Style-R reproducing rolls. It was the installation of this changer that facilitated the need for the Tuba rank being added - rank number 15. A used high-pressure Tuba was found, brass for new reed tongues was ordered from Kimball, and the new tongues were cut, curved, and voiced by former Welte tonal finisher James Nuttall in his Glendale, Calif., home. Source: text and photos in <i>The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. II</i> by David L. Junchen. -Database Manager

Stoplist

Typed stoplist Source: from <i>The Welte Organ in America - An Installation List</i> by James Lewis, 2012 Date not recorded

Death Valley, California
A. M. Johnson Residence - "Scotty's Castle"

Welte-Mignon Corporation   1928   3 manuals, 15 ranks
_____________________________________________________

3 manual horseshoe console
Single Roll Player console
Multi-Control 10 roll changer
Wurlitzer 6-roll changer *
7" wind pressure throughout
Two chambers

          16' Diaphone                85 pipes
          16' Tibia Clausa            85 pipes
          16' Flute                  101 pipes
          16' Viola                   85 pipes
           8' Viol d'Orchestre        73 pipes
           8' Viol Celeste            73 pipes
           8' Philomela               73 pipes
           8' Horn Diapason           73 pipes
           8' Tuba                    73 pipes *
           8' Trumpet                 73 pipes
           8' French Horn             61 pipes
           8' Clarinet                61 pipes
           8' Oboe                    61 pipes
           8' Kinura                  61 pipes
           8' Vox Humana              61 pipes
           4' Harp                    49 notes
           2' Glockenspiel            37 notes
           8' Chimes                  20 notes
              Grand Piano             88 notes
              Bass Drum
              Snare Drum
              Chinese Gong
              Persian Cymbal

           *  added 1935 by Lloyd Davey


[Received from Steven E. Lawson  2017-08-23]