Unknown - Choir Loft and Organ Case., ca. 1950 (Photograph in personal collection; image courtesy of Andrew Henderson/Database Manager)
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2014-07-17 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. Identified by Andrew Henderson, using information found in Information gleaned from church archives.. -- The instrument was installed by Arthur H. Lye & Walter Lye (the latter officiated at the organ for the dedication service). Organ was electrified in 1949 by the Lye Organ Company and eventually replaced by the church's Casavant pipe organ. The instrument was sold to J. Kamphuis of Toronto, Ontario, and likely broken up for parts. -Database Manager
2014-07-28 - Updated through online information from Andrew Henderson. -- The organ was electrified in 1949 by the Lye Organ Company (William R. Lye), providing a new, detached console. Total cost for this work $3,736. Maas Chimes were added in 1953. The organ deteriorated rather quickly and was eventually replaced by Casavant, Opus 2917 in 1967. -Database Manager
2022-04-23 - The contract states that the organ case made of chestnut was of "special design": 14' wide, 5' 6" deep, 15-16' tall, front pipes decorated in plain gold. Written on the back of the contract in pencil: "St. Andrew's Church / Thorold, Ont / re-built organ" confirming that this instrument was second-hand, though the location of the original installation is unknown. The cost of the organ was $1,975. A specification found in a 1948 source in the church records contains some differences compared to the contract specification. It is unknown whether the organ was altered by the Lye firm following the signing of the contract and prior to installation, or if changes were made at a later date. The differences are as follows: Great Organ: 4' Flute d'Amour (instead of 2' Fifteenth in the contract) Swell Organ: 8' Viole de gambe (instead of 4' Octave listed in the contract) Swell Organ: 4' Traverse Flute (instead of 8' Oboe listed in the contract) -Andrew Henderson
Source: Taken from the contract, dated May 11, 1922 May 11, 1922
Thorold, Ontario St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Edward Lye & Sons, 1922 GREAT ORGAN 8 Open Diapason (metal, 58 pipes) 8 Clarabella (wood, 46 pipes) 8 Dulciana (metal, 46 pipes) 8 Stop Diapason Bass (wood, 12 pipes) 4 Principal (metal, 58 pipes) 2 Fifteenth (metal, 58 pipes) SWELL ORGAN (enclosed) 8 Open Diapason (metal, 58 pipes) 8 Stopped Diapason Treble (wood, 46 pipes) 8 Stopped Diapason Bass (wood, 12 pipes) 8 Aeoline (metal, 49 pipes) 4 Octave (metal, 58 pipes) 8 Oboe (metal, 58 pipes) PEDAL ORGAN "on pneumatic action" 16 Bourdon (wood, 30 pipes) COUPLERS &C Great to Pedals Swell to Pedals Swell to Great Tremolo to Swell Balanced Swell Pedal Forte Pedal to Great Piano Pedal to Great Concave and radiating pedals The organ specification provided here is slightly different than that listed in a church source dating from 1948. [Received from Andrew Henderson 2014-07-19, revised 2022-04-22]
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