Better Pipe Organ Database

Wicks Pipe Organ Co. Opus 135 (1914)

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church: Sanctuary; rear gallery
Plum & Howard Streets
Union City, IN

Images

2014-07-05 - Nameplate & crescendo indicator. (Photograph by Photo by Timothy E. Conyers/Timothy E. Conyers)

2014-07-01 - Church Exterior (Photograph by Timothy E. Conyers/Database Manager)

2009-09-26 - Balcony and Organ Case (Photograph by Timothy E. Conyers/Database Manager)

2009-09-26 - Console (Photograph by Timothy E. Conyers/Database Manager)

2009-09-26 - Church Interior and Altar (Photograph by Timothy E. Conyers/Database Manager)

Unknown - Church Exterior (Image (ca. 1900) from a Church Bulletin/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Organ type: Traditional With Roll Top
Console position: Console in Fixed Position, Center
2 manuals
14 stops
16 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: 30 notes
Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Not Meeting AGO Standards)
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
Has crescendo
Combination action: Adjustable Combination Pistons
Has combination thumb pistons
Has coupler toe pistons

Notes

2012-06-22 - Identified through online information from Ron Yeater. -- This was the very first direct-electric organ -Database Manager

2012-06-25 - Updated through online information from Ron Yeater. -- As is the case with all early Wicks Direct Electric Organs, there was much replacement of early, somewhat experimental actions with later, improved ones. This was evidently done on a warranty basis. -Database Manager

2012-09-27 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- Old photographs of the pipe facade show that it once had stenciled pipes. At some unknown date the pipes were painted solid gold. By the late 1980's the outline of the old stenciling had started to bleed through. In the fall of 1999 when the church was renovated and a new high altar built, the organ pipes where once again painted over in gold paint to compliment the new decor. Old photographs also show that the detached console was reversed from its current position. Currently the organist' back is to the altar but in one old photo the organist faced the altar. Due to the slanting balcony floor, the console platform must have been opposite its current position. This organ is in fair condition for its age. It is playable and used regularly but needs some attetion. The building is not air conditioned and during the winter there is heat only during services. What stops work at any given time depends upon the humidity and atmospheric conditions both inside and outside the building. The instrument was not used during most of the 1980's and an electronic organ was set up beside the pipe organ console. Some say it was because the organist did not like playing the pipe organ; others said it was because of the intrument's condition. The organ was "restored" in the early 1990's and was reported as such by church leadership to the local newspaper. However, some local organist believe only a partial restoration was actually made at the time in order to make the instrument usable. (Such appeared to be the case when I was a substitue at the console). For many years the instrument has only been used at Saturday night Mass, with the electronic organ being used at Sunday Mass. -Database Manager

2012-10-21 - Updated through online information from Timothy E. Conyers. -- Visited this church on 20 Oct. 2012. The pipe organ console has been moved. It is no longer centered in front of the case but has been moved off-center to the left front side of the case. The Great division is experencing many dead notes. The electronic organ has been moved downstairs and placed behind the last pew on the north side, (left when facing altar). -Database Manager

Stoplist

from factory records Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

UNION CITY, INDIANA
ST. MARY'S R.C. CHURCH

Wicks Pipe Organ Co. op. 135, 1914

GREAT ORGAN  61 notes
8  Open Diapason  44 sc.
8  Melodia
8  Dulciana
8  Viol d'Gamba
4  Octave
4  Flute d'Amour

SWELL ORGAN  61 notes
16 Bourdon
8  Open Diapason  46 sc.
8  Salicional
8  Aeoline
8  Stopped Diapason
4  Flute Harmonic
8  Oboe    (reed)
    Tremolo

PEDAL ORGAN  30 notes
16 Bourdon
16 Lieblich (Sw)
8  Flute  12p.

full 16-8-4 couplers

"Show pipes: speaking and richly decorated in gold and oil colors
to harmonize with the decorations of the church building."
(a nice counterpoint to the "advanced" action!!)


 [Received from Ron Yeater 2012-06-29.]