2019-01-23 - This entry describes an original installation of a new pipe organ. <br>Identified by Eric Schmiedeberg, who gave this as the source of the information: I worked on and played the instrument when it was installed in the home of Ken and Jenice Rosen in Granada Hills, CA--1988.<br> -Database Manager
2019-02-14 - Updated by Eric Schmiedeberg, who gave this as the source of the information: I completely rebuilt the manual chests of this instrument, dismantled it and prepared it for moving to a new Rosen residence.. <br> <br>This is an unusual Style \"D\" Wurlitzer. First of all, the organ features a Crescendo Pedal and a seventh rank--an Orchestral Oboe--which are not normally found in this model. Secondly, the chest layout is that of a divided instrument. The Style \"D\" was normally a single-chamber design. Thirdly, the way that the ranks and percussions are divided between this instrument\'s chambers is decidedly unorthodox. This layout was no doubt necessary to accommodate the spaces provided for the organ.<br><br>I have come to the conclusion that this instrument has been mis-identified for many, many years. This organ was not installed in the Pig n\' Whistle restaurant in Hollywood. That store was not opened until mid-1927. It was actually installed in that chain\'s downtown Los Angeles store, which dated back to 1914. Present owner Ken Rosen, the modern Pig n\' Whistle restaurant in Hollywood and lots of other parties have been mistaken all these years--including myself. Indeed, the Hollywood venue even briefly mentions an \"ornate organ\" on their website. Was there another make of instrument there and the Wurlitzer has been mistakenly confused with it? As far as Wurlitzer\'s records are concerned, there was only one of their instruments shipped to a Pig n\' Whistle. That one being sent to Los Angeles. <br><br>Wurlitzer was quite specific about the destinations of their organs. On the other hand, recipient\'s names could actually be the those of the parties to whom the organs were sold, rather than the name of the actual venues at which the instruments were installed. Given Wurlitzer\'s accuracy concerning the municipalities to which their instruments were sent, however, I believe LA (not Hollywood) was exactly what they meant. Besides, I made a study of the California Pig n\' Whistle chain\'s history (there were and are) other places by this name in the US) and I discovered that the chain did not begin to expand until 1927. In early 1925, the only Los Angeles Area store was at 224 South Broadway, downtown.<br><br> Wurlitzer Opus 1009 is partially made up of factory-recycled parts. The 4-rank Main Chamber manual chest (and perhaps other components as well) is from an earlier instrument. The chest is inscribed with a notation inside: \"Palms Theatre--Long Beach\". There is no record of a Wurlitzer sent to such a theatre in Long Beach. Given the makeup of this chest, it could have come from anything from a Special 3-rank model shipped with the added chorus reed rank found on that chest, or a model normally containing that fourth voice; a Style 135 or a Style \"B\". Consequently, there is no telling the pedigree of the chest, unfortunately. Also, since the organ was eventually stripped of all of its percussions (save the chimes perhaps) on the way to its North Hollywood church home, other recycled parts might have found their way into the instrument amongst these components. I never opened any of the offset chest work. There may have been recycled parts used there, too. Wurlitzer would recycle parts to cut down on waste and cut down the costs. <br><br> -Database Manager
Original document from Eric Schmiedeberg. Source: Stoplist taken from the console--some speculation is involved as to original manual second-touches and the effects connected to the toe studs. 2019-03-02
224 South Broadway--Los Angeles, CA
Pig n' Whistle Restaurant
Organ by The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.--Opus 1009--Style "D-X" Special Shipped March 4, 1925
CHAMBER ANALYSIS
Main Chamber--Pipework on 10" wind--Shutters, all percussions, traps & effects--12"
16' Flute--97 pipes
8' Trumpet ("Type 2"--aka "Style 'D'")--61 pipes
8' Salicional--73 pipes
8' Vox Humana--61 pipes
Xylophone--37 notes
Glockenspiel--30 notes
Cathedral Chimes--18 notes
All non-tonal percussions
All sound effects
Solo Chamber--Pipework on 10" wind--Shutters & Chrysoglott--12"
16' Open Diapason--85 pipes (low 12 notes are metal Diaphones)
8' Tibia Clausa--73 pipes
8' Orchestral Oboe--61 pipes
Chrysoglott--49 notes
PEDAL SOLO
16' Bass 16' Bass
16' Bourdon 16' Contra Viol TC
8' Trumpet 16' Bourdon
8' Open Diapason 16' Vox Humana TC
8' Tibia Clausa 8' Trumpet
8' Flute 8' Open Diapason
8' Cello* 8' Tibia Clausa
Bass Drum 8' Orchestral Oboe
Kettle Drum 8' Salicional
Cymbal 8' Flute
8' Vox Humana
4' Octave
ACCOMPANIMENT 4' Piccolo
4' Salicet
16' Contra Viol TC 4' Flute
16' Vox Humana TC 2-2/3' Twelfth (Flute)
8' Trumpet 2' Piccolo (Flute)
8' Open Diapason 1-3/5' Tierce (Flute)
8' Tibia Clausa Cathedral Chimes
8' Orchestral Oboe Xylophone
8' Salicional Glockenspiel
8' Flute Chrysoglott
8' Vox Humana
4' Octave
4' Piccolo
4' Salicet ACCOMPANIMENT SECOND TOUCHES
4' Flute
4' Vox Humana 8' Trumpet
2' Piccolo 8' Orchestral Oboe
Chrysoglott
Snare Drum
Tambourine SOLO SECOND TOUCHES
Castanets
Chinese Block 16' Trumpet TC
8' Orchestral Oboe
PUSH BUTTON--Accompaniment key cheek--right side TOE STUDS (speculative)++
Door Bell (fire alarm type) Bird
Fire Gong
Fire Gong (reiterating)
Steamboat Whistle
COMBINATION ACTION Auto Horn
Horse's Hooves
Pedal/Accomp.--1-7 Siren
Pistol Shot (Tom Tom)
Pedal/Solo--1-7 Surf
BLOWER
3 Horsepower--Spencer Turbine Co.
**An odd stop order, but correct for a Style "D"
++"Stock" Style "D" organs feature 9 toe studs for effects. This assumes the same.
--The organ was stripped of all of its "theatrical" elements (except--perhaps--the
Chimes) in the move from the restaurant to its new church home in North Hollywood.
I know that the Chrysoglott didn't make it to the church. Many times, that percussion
will go to a church installation along with the Chimes.
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