Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2012-10-21 - An original installation. Identified by Ronald Crowl, based on personal knowledge of the organ. -- -Database Manager
Personal records and notes. Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
The original building for the Hyde Park Methodist church, a large red-brick “Chicago-gothic” building, the sanctuary of which seated about 700, was completed in 1909. The W.W. Kimball organ was installed the same year. The organ, originally tubuluar-pneumatic, was electrified by Kimball in 1925, and provided with a new detached console, along with the KPO (opus) 5047. The original ventil chests were used, new electro-pneumatic primaries installed, and the Pedal ranks expanded to 32 notes. The organ was again reworked by Kimball in 1937: the Great was put under expression, several original ranks were replaced with new ones, including the Swell strings, Oboe and Vox Humana, along with the Great Principal and Trumpet. The Swell Aeoline was removed in favor of a 2’ Flageolet. Chimes and a new console were added at the same time. The original façade of pipes, which included the bass pipes of the Great Open Diapason and Dulciana, was eliminated and a grille installed to cover the tone opening – the bass pipes were then re-installed on new offset chests in the Great chamber. The dwindling congregation merged with the United Church of Hyde Park in 1970, and the building was abandoned with the organ and most of the original church furniture in place. There was considerable vandalism to both building and organ. The valuable Kimball reed ranks were stolen, along with the Great “pure tin” 4’ Principal. The “pure tin” strings were smashed. Finally, in an effort to save what was left of the organ, the remaining ranks, along with the 1937 console, were removed in 1974 and relocated to a church in mid-state Illinois as the basis of a new instrument. Sadly, the chests, expression shades and blower remained in the building. The Hyde Park Methodist church was demolished in 1977. W.W. KIMBALL CO. Hyde Park Methodist Church Chicago, Illinois KPO 5047 – 1909-1925-1937 GREAT: Expressive, 6 ranks 8’ Open Diapason 61 8’ Viola 61 (1937, replaced original Viol d’Gamba) 8’ Melodia 61 8’ Dulciana 61 4’ Principal 61 (1937, pure tin, replaced original Principal) 8’ Trumpet 61 (1937, replaced original Trumpet) Tremolo 8’ Chimes (25 tubes, with Kimball’s soft/sustain “piano” action – 1937) Great to Great: 16’-Unison Off-4’ Swell to Great: 16’-8’-4’ Great Combinations: 1-2-3-4 (with Pedal to Combinations: On-Off) General Combinations: 1-2-3-4 General Cancel SWELL: Expressive, 9 ranks 16’ Bourdon 61 8‘ Geigen Diapason 61(1937, replaced original Violin Diapason) 8’ Stopped Diapason 61 (1937, Chimney Flute, replaced original wood Stopped Flute) 8’ Salicional 61 (1937, pure tin, replaced original Salicional) 8’ Voix Celeste 49 (1937, pure tin, replaced original Voix Celeste) 4’ Harmonic Flute 61 2’ Flageolet 61 (1937, replaced original 8 Aeoline) 8’ Oboe 61 (1937, replaced original Oboe & Bassoon) 8’ Vox Humana 61 (1937, replaced original Vox Humana) Tremolo Swell to Swell: 16’-Unison Off-4’ Swell Combination: 1-2-3-4 (with Pedal to Combinations: On-Off) PEDAL: Unexpressive, 2 ranks 16’ Open Diapason 32 16’ Bourdon 44 16’ Lieblich Gedeckt – from Swell 8’ Flute 32 open wood 8’ Dolce Flute – from Swell Great to Pedal: 8’-4’ Swell to Pedal: 8’-4’ Pedal Combinations: 1-2-3-4 (toe movements) REVERSIBLES: Great to Pedal (piston and toe) Swell to Pedal (piston and toe) Chimes Soft (locking pedal with indicator light) Chimes Sustaining (locking pedal with indicator light) Sforzando (piston and toe with indicator light) [Received from Ronald Crowl 2012-10-22.]
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