2015-12-13 - This entry describes alterations to an existing organ. Identified by James R. Stettner, based on personal knowledge of the organ. <br> -Database Manager
Stoplist copied from the console November 8, 2015 Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Seattle, Washington
Central Lutheran Church
M.P. MÖLLER, Opus 6183, 1933
William J. Bunch, 1944 – 1996 - On-Going Enlargement
GREAT POSITIV
8' Principal 61 8' Holz Gedeckt 61
8' Open Diapason (Sw) -- 4' Principal (Gt) --
8' Bourdon 61 4' Koppel Flöte 61
8' Gedeckt (Sw) -- 2-2/3' Nasat 61
8' Dolce (Sw) -- 2' Block Flöte 61
4' Octave 61 1-3/5' Terz (tc) 49
4' Rohr Flöte 61 1' Sifflöte 61
2-2/3' Octave Quint 61 8' Krummhorn (tc) 49
2' Super Octave 61
IV Fourniture 244 Positiv 16'
IV Mixture 48 Positiv Unison Off
8' Clarinet (in Sw) 61 Positiv 4'
8' Oboe (Sw) --
Great Unison Off ANTIPHONAL GREAT (Expressive)
Great 4' 8' Stopped Flute 49
4' Principal 61
2' Wald Flute 61
SWELL (Expressive) Antiphonal Chimes (20)
16' Gedeckt 12
8' Open Diapason (Ped) 17
8' Gedeckt 61 ANTIPHONAL SWELL (Expressive)
8' Viola Pomposa 61 8' Rohr Flöte 61
8' Viola Celeste 61 8' Echo Salicional 61
8' Dolce 61 8' Echo Celeste (tc) 49
8' Dolce Celeste 61 4' Harmonic Flute 61
4' Geigen Principal 61 Tremulant [on coupler rail]
4' Harmonic Flute 61
2-2/3' Nazard (Ged) --
2' Flautino 24 PEDAL
16' Trompette (Sw/Ped) -- 32' Violone (elec) --
8' Trompette 61 32' Resultant --
8' Oboe 61 16' Violone (elec) --
8' Vox Humana 61 16' Subbass 32
Tremulant 16' Gedeckt (Sw) --
8' Principal 32
Swell 16' 8' Flute 12
Swell Unison Off 8' Gedeckt (Sw) --
Swell 4' 4' Octave 12
16' Tuba 32
8' Trompette (Sw) --
4' Trompette (Sw) --
COUPLERS FINGER PISTONS
Chancel Swell to Pedal 8,4 General 1 - 20
Chancel Great to Pedal 8,4 Antiphonal 1 - 4
Chancel Positiv to Pedal 8,4 Swell 1 - 6
Antiph. Great to Pedal 8,4 Sw. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
Antiph. Swell to Pedal 8 Sw. to Gt. Rev. (rev)
Sw. to Pos. Rev. (rev)
Chancel Swell to Great 16,8,4 Great 1 - 6
Chancel Positiv to Great 8,4 Gt. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
Chancel Pedal to Great 8 Positiv 1 - 6
Pos. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
Chancel Swell to Positiv 16,8,4 Ch. to Gt. Rev. (rev)
Chancel Great to Positiv 8 Pedal 1 - 6
Reeds On
Antiph. Swell to Swell 8,4 Reeds Off
Trems On
Antiph. Swell to Great 8 Trems Off
Antiph. Great to Great 8,4 32' Resul't Rev. (rev)
Sfz. Rev. (rev)
Antiph. Swell to Echo [man. IV] 8,4 Set
Antiph. Great to Echo [man. IV] 8,4 Gen. Can.
Antiph. Great to Positiv 8
TOE STUDS
Zimbelstern Pedal 1 – 7
Gt. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
Sw. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
PEDAL MOVEMENTS Ch. to Ped. Rev. (rev)
Choir Expression [unused] (bal.) 32' Reversible (rev)
1 [Antiph. Expression] (bal.)
2 [Swell Expresssion] (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.) MEMORY SELECT
Rotary Dial 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
ACTION: E-P (various) VOICES: 35 STOPS: 56 RANKS: 38 PIPES: 2,308
(inc. chimes)
NOTES
This organ began life as a 2-manual, 8-rank instrument built by the M.P. Möller Co.
of Hagerstown, Maryland in 1933 as their opus 6183. It was installed entirely in the
chamber with the ornate grille on the left side of the altar – which now holds the
Swell division.
The first additions were made in 1944, and were a tenor C 8' Voix Celeste (49 pipes)
and a tenor C 8' Concert Flute which borrowed it's bottom octave from the 8' Gedeckt.
Both added ranks were made by Organ Supply Corp. of Erie, PA. and were installed on
used Wurlitzer chests from the Rex Theatre in Salem, Oregon.
In 1945, the Spokane Liberty Theatre Wurlitzer Chrysoglott was moved from Bill
Bunch's home organ and installed. It was later removed and sold ca. 1984.
1950 saw the installation of the Antiphonal organ over the Narthex. This was an 1892
Jardine from Shortridge Memorial Christian Church in Butte, Montana playing on an
unknown make of ventil chests. The expression louvers were used Kimball shutters,
and a Smith switchboard was installed. The original Moller chimes were also moved
back here at this time.
In 1951, a flared-bell 8' Trompette built by Organ Supply was installed in the Swell.
Also about this time, the attic over the sacristy and choir gallery was opened-up for
organ expansion. An expressive Choir division was installed over the sacristy, and an
unenclosed Great over the choir loft. The Wurlitzer chests were moved from the Swell,
and new electro-mechanical chests were built for a 7-rank Diapason chorus from an 1890
Hook & Hastings of unspecified origin, plus flues for the Choir. The pipework was not
'satisfactory' to Bill's tastes, and was replaced in due time. The Choir was also con-
verted into a non-expressive Positiv by the removal of the dividing wall and shutters.
The Pedal also received a Reuter 16' Tuba in 1951 which was installed on new chests.
1952 saw the installation of the present 4-manual console. The original plan was to
have a 3-manual console, but a gentleman who practiced at the church gave funds to
make it a 4-manual – primarily so that the Antiphonal divisions could have their own
manual. The console was built by Homer Toombs of Balcom and Vaughan.
In 1954, the original Moller 8' Open Diapason – which was a heavy phono-type diapason,
was replaced by a new Organ Supply 8' Open Diapason. When a new Aeolian-Skinner 8'
Principal was installed ca. 1962, the Organ Supply set became the Pedal 8' Principal &
4' Octave with extension, and is borrowed to both the Swell and the Great. Also in 1954,
a massive Welte combination action from Los Angeles was installed in the basement. But
it didn't work properly due to both age and dampness in the basement, and was replaced
ca. 1958 by a recorder board made by Bill Bunch. Ultimately, a new Lucas system was in-
stalled in 1978.
Between 1956 and 1966 while Bill Bunch was in Boston working with Aeolian-Skinner, he
was able to procure a number of Aeolian-Skinner ranks which were installed during
vacations. After his return in 1966, he and good friend Charles Wassberg started major
organ improvements thanks to generous friends of the organ. After Bill's retirement
from Balcom and Vaughan in 1985, he and Charles spent considerable time on the project.
1986 saw the building and installation of the new Pedal and Swell relays designed to
accommodate the ultimate specification. In 1987 the original Moller string and added
Voix Celeste were replaced with a new Viola Pomposa and Viola Celeste made by Aeolian-
Skinner craftsmen. The console was also over-hauled with new stop jambs, and a new
Peterson coupler relay. New Pedal sharps and naturals were also installed.
In 1988, new and larger reservoirs built by Balcom and Vaughan were installed in the
Great, Positiv, and Antiphonal divisions replacing the Wurlitzer regulators first in-
stalled. A new switchboard was built for the Great and Positiv divisions. And a number
of new windchests were built for various stops.
1989 saw the addition of a like-new 3-stop Balcom and Vaughan chest and another 2-stop
chest for the Great and Positiv additions.
In 1990, the Antiphonal divisons were cleaned. The chamber was painted, and the layout
was rearranged for better service access. A 32'/16' electronic Pedal unit was procured
to provide for more pedal gravity.
1991 saw the installation of the Great 8' Clarinet (in the Swell chamber) from another
Moller at First Presbyterian in Everett, Washington, and the chest for the Great 2-2/3'
Octave Quint, 4' Rohr Flöte, and IV Mixture.
Over the years, various ranks have been installed and replaced. At one time, the Great
had a 4' Gedeckt which was the former Positiv Quintaton revoiced. In addition to pipe-
work by Moller, Jardine, Aeolian-Skinner, Organ Supply, and Reuter – there are pipes by
Hinners, and the Positiv (tc) 8' Krummhorn was new from Gieseke ca. 1967.
Bill Bunch's passing in 1996 saw an end to the organ expansion and evolution. While an
eclectic mix of pipes – the organ is well-installed and reasonably accessible with well-
lit chambers, and steps and covers for access and to protect windlines. It would benefit
from a number of mechanical and electrical improvements, and has had issues with rodent
infiltration, but provides good music for the needs of a Lutheran liturgy.
Sources: Möller opus list; William J. Bunch typed documentation; JRS; extant organ
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