Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2004-10-30 - Status Note: There 1989 -Database Manager
2006-09-28 - Updated through online information from J.T. Ellenberger. -- This organ was barely playable in 2001. I got to crawl around in the chambers. The chests and pipework on the swell side were dirty, but still in respectable condition. This organ has a horizontally mounted 16' open principal which has the biggest scale I've ever seen anywhere. The console is presently disconnected and stored under the stage beside the biggest Spencer Orgelblo I've ever seen. As of five years ago, there was no plan to restore the instrument, as its location militates against its use as a compliment to the Reading Symphony which now makes its home in the renovated Masonic Theatre. When the symphony wants to play something with an organ, they rent one from Allen. The organ chambers are behind a plaster proscenium arch, and there would be no way to remove the instrument without destroying the front of the theater. What a shame! -Database Manager
2014-06-12 - Reportedly sold in 2000 to the Berks County Convention Center Authority, Reading, for use in the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. -Database Manager
2022-04-22 - Replaced an built by an unidentified builder from 1893. (source: *Reading Times*, 31 Mar 1893) -Paul R. Marchesano
2022-06-29 - From Wikipedia: In November 1922 construction began on the current theatre. It operated as a performance arts venue for vaudeville, operas, concerts, plays, and a movie theatre at various times during the 20th century. In 2000 the Berks County Convention Center Authority oversaw the acquisition and renovation of the theatre by Sovereign Bank; who rebranded the theater as the Sovereign Performing Arts Center. Sovereign Bank was rebranded as Santander Bank on October 17, 2013; and the performing arts center for which it has naming rights were also rebranded. It is now the home of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the "Broadway on 6th St" annual series of musicals and plays. -Jeff Scofield
Stoplist copied from <i>The Diapason</i> December 1922 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Reading, Pennsylvania
Rajah Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
Austin Op. 1068 1922 4/40
_____________________________________________________
GREAT SWELL
16' Dbl Open Diapason 61 16' Bourdon 73
8' Principal Diapason 61 8' Open Diapason 73
8' Small Diapason 61 8' Melodia 73
8' Gross Gedeckt 61 8' Viole d'Orchestre 73
8' Clarabella 61 8' Viole Celeste 61
8' Gemshorn 61 8' Gedeckt 73
4' Octave 12 8' Salicional 73
4' Flute Harmonic 61 8' Vox Angelica 61
2' Fifteenth 61 4' Flute d'Amour 73
8' Trumpet 61 2 2/3' Nazard 61
Sub 2' Flautino 61
Unison Off 1 3/5' Tierce 61
Super 16' Contra Fagotto 73
Chimes 20 8' Cornopean 73
8' Oboe 12
ORCHESTRAL 8' Vox Humana 61
16' Contra Gamba 73 Tremolo
8' Horn Diapason 73 Sub
8' Concert Flute 73 Unison Off
8' Flute Celeste 61 Super
8' Dolce 73
8' Unda Maris 61 SOLO
4' Flauto Traverso 12 8' Stentorphone 73
2' Piccolo 12 8' Philomela 73
8' Clarinet 73 8' Gross Gamba 73
8' Orchestral Oboe 73 8' Gamba Celeste 73
8' Cor Anglais 73 8' Concert Flute OR
8' Echo Vox Humana 61 4' Flauto Traverso OR
Tremolo 8' Tuba Mirabilis 73
Sub 8' French Horn 73
Unison Off 8' Orchestral Oboe OR
Super 8' Clarinet OR
Harp 49 8' Cor Anglais OR
Tremolo
PEDAL Sub
32' Resultant -- Unison Off
16' Diapason 32 Super
16' 2nd Open Diapason GT Chimes GT
16' Bourdon 12 GT Xylophone 49
16' Gedeckt SW Celesta 61
16' Contra Gamba OR
8' Philomela SO
8' Cello SO
8' Gedeckt SW
16' Tuba 12 SO
16' Fagotto SW
8' Tuba SO
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