Note: Not playable. (in this location)
2012-08-17 - Identified through online information from T. Daniel Hancock. -- The "American Musical Directory," Thomas Hutchinson, New York, 1861 reports "Size of organ--3 banks keys, 40 stops, 2-1/2 octaves pedals. Built by Simmons & Willcox, of Boston, in 1859." -Database Manager
2012-08-20 - Updated through online information from T. Daniel Hancock. -Database Manager
2016-09-03 - Updated through online information from Scot Huntington: The organ was not a success, and was rebuilt shortly after installation by Henry Erben. There is some suspicion gleaned from contemporary accounts of the Erben rebuild, that the reason for the technical failure of the Simmons is that may have used cone-valve chests, (Kegellade), which quickly succumbed to the Albany climate. The organ was rebuilt by J.H. & C.S. Odell in 1912. The church was closed in 1994, and has deteriorated badly in the intervening years. After several subsequent changing of hands and aborted plans for reuse, the building was deeded back to the city of Albany in 2013. As of this 2016 update, the building still sits crumbling and unused, with no clear plan for a mandatory multi-million dollar rehabilitation, or future. A survey of the Odell is needed to determine how much of the Simmons and Erben pipework may still survive, although the original Simmons 32' open wood Diapason is still extant, and can be glimpsed through the broken windows in the tower. -Database Manager
2017-10-05 - The key action is reversed, the organist looking away from the organ. ... The "Pneumatic Pressure" takes the labor from his fingers, and throws it back upon the bellows blower, so that the touch is never harder than that of a Grand Piano. -Database Manager
2024-12-20 - This instrument is described in Dwight's Journal Sept 17 1859 to have the same features as the instrument built for Appleton Chapel, mainly cone chests, a crescendo pedal, tri-pressure wind system (implying the use of a higher pressure for some stops or divisions as well as a higher pressure for the action). This instrument was additionally equipped with a reversed console and barker machine. -Christian Tedesco
Typed stoplist Source: from <i>Dwight's Music Journal</i>, September 17, 1859 Date not recorded
Albany, New York
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
Simmons & Willcox 1859 3 manuals, 48 stops, 57 ranks
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GREAT ORGAN SWELL ORGAN
16' Open Diapason 58 16' Bourdon 58
8' Open Diapason 58 8' Open Diapason 58
8' Viola di Gamba 58 8' Flûte Harmonique 58
8' Hohl-Flöte 58 8' Stopped Diapason 58
8' Stopped Diapason 58 8' Dulciana 58
8' Flauto Traverso 58 4' Principal 58
4' Principal 58 4' Spire (or Spitz) Flute 58
4' Flute Octaviante 58 2' Fifteenth 58
4' Night Horn 58 Cornets, 4 rks 232
2 2/3' Twelfth 58 8' Cornopean 58
2' Fifteenth 58 8' Oboe 58
Sesquialtera, 3 rks 174 4' Clarion 58
Mixture, 5 rks 290
8' Trumpet 58 PEDAL ORGAN
8' Clarionet 58 32' Contra Open Diapason 30
4' Clarion 58 16' Open Diapason 30
16' Gamba 30
CHOIR ORGAN 16' Bourdon 30
16' Æolos 58 8' Octave 30
8' Open Diapason 58 8' Violoncello 30
8' Claribella 58 4' Super Octave 30
8' Stopped Diapason 58 16' Trombone 30
8' Dulciana 58 8' Trumpet 30
8' Keraulophon 58 4' Clarion 30
4' Principal 58
4' Flûte à Cheminée 58
2' Flageolette 58
8' Cremona (Krumm-horn) 58
MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS
Great and Swell
Great and Choir, 8 feet
Great and Choir, 16 feet
Choir and Swell
Pedal and Great
Pedal and Swell
Pedal and Choir
Pedal at Octaves
Bellows Signal
Pedal Check
Tremblant
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2017-10-05]
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