2020-09-02 - Accordin to the Blackpool Tower website, *"The first Wurlitzer organ was installed in the Ballroom in 1929. It was replaced in 1935 with one to Reginald Dixon’s specification."* -Jim Stettner
2020-09-02 - The organ was shipped to the U.K. in December of 1934, and installed in early 1935. This new 3/13 Wurlitzer replaced the 1929 2/10 Style 205SP Wurlitzer. The new organ, termed the "Wonder Wurlitzer" was built to Reginald Dixon's own specification, based on the 3/19 Balaban 4, but scaled down to fit in the Ballroom chambers. From very early in its life the organ was amplified, with microphones just outside the chamber shutters and very prominently heard on the percussion. The old 2/10 Wurlitzer was enlarged to match the new 2187's specification and installed at the Empress Ballroom in the Winter Gardens. Following the Second World War several changes were made: 1. Addition of a 14th Rank: the Tuba Mirabilis was installed, giving the organ 2 Tubas (the other being the Tuba Harmonic), and both quite smooth in sound. 2. The Upright "Phantom Piano" was replaced with a 7' Bechstein Grand Piano, said to be from the Blackpool Opera House (Opus 2229, 1939). 3. The Quint & Tierce Couplers were installed. After a visit with Reginald Foort (of the 5/27 touring Moeller) trick couplers were seen as a way to increase the organ's volume. These couplers were installed along the top of the solo stoprail, replacing some 2' stops. The Quint Coupler couples at the 2 2/3 pitch (rather than the 5 1/3 pitch found on many organs) and the [Sub]-Tierce Coupler at the 3 1/5 pitch (as opposed to 6 2/5 found on other organs). The couplers were first installed on Opus 2037 at the Empress Ballroom, and then eventually at the Tower Ballroom. 4. The Vox Humana, which was rather underpowered for usage in the Ballroom, was replaced with a Solo String (no celeste), made by Rodgers, as was the Mirabilis. Eventually these are said to have been replaced by the corresponding Wurlitzer ranks from the nearby Opera House Wurlitzer (Opus 2229). The Tower Ballroom suffered a devastating fire in 1956 and though the organ was okay, the console and piano were badly damaged. The console from Wurlitzer Opus 2228 was used for parts to repair the damage. It was after this rebuilding that the red bench appeared, the rectangular division names, and the lift. Previously the console was placed on a platform that would slide out from the back of the stage. The new lift, and British Klockner equipment, was installed, complete with sliding trapdoor and scissor lift, centre stage. The Bechstein Grand Piano from the Guamont Manchester (Wurlitzer Opus 2189) was installed to replace the damaged one, that is believed to have been from the Opera House. During the 1980s a solid-state relay system was installed to replace the old setter-boards and electro-pneumatic relays. During the late 1990s the old Bechstein grand piano became increasingly worn, and was replaced with a MIDI piano module about 1999. The Bechstein is still back stage and supposedly the 1935 upright phantom piano is also still on site. The console specification remains unaltered and does not feature increased general pistons, multiple levels of piston memory, or any other modern additions. -Jacob Woods
Source: Taken from photographs of the console. Recorded for my own usage and put in a colour-coded PDF (pity the colours did not load here). 2017
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. (Opus 2187, 1934)
Tower Ballroom,
Blackpool
PEDAL
LOWER BOLSTER UPPER BOLSTER
16' Tuba Profunda
16' Diaphone
16' Bourdon 16' Piano
16' Tibia Clausa Bass Drum
8' Harmonic Tuba Kettle Drum
8' Open Diapason Crash Cymbal
8' Tibia Clausa Cymbal
8' Tibia Clausa GT to PD Coupler
8' String
8' Viol Celeste
8' Flute
8' Tuba Mirabilis
ACCOMPANIMENT 10 Divisional Combination Pistons
LOWER BOLSTER UPPER BOLSTER
4' Octave
4' Tibia Piccolo
4' Viol
16' Viol (T.C.) 4' Octave Celeste
16' Bourdon 4' Flute
16' Orch. Oboe (T.C.) 4’ Orch. Oboe
8' Harmonic Tuba 2 2/3’ Twelfth
8' Tibia Clausa 16’ Piano
8' Tibia Clausa 8’ Piano
8' Saxophone 4’ Piano
8' Krumet Mandolin (Piano Effect)
8' Solo String (Replaced Vox) Chrysoglott
8' Violin Snare Drum
8' Violin Celeste Tambourine
8' Kinura Castanets
8' Concert Flute Chinese Block
8' Orch. Oboe Tom Tom
Sand Block
ACC Oct.
GREAT 10 Divisional Combination Pistons
LOWER BOLSTER UPPER BOLSTER
4’ Octave
4’ Clarion (Tuba Harmonic)
16’ Tuba Profunda 4’ Tibia Piccolo
16’ Diaphone 4’ Tibia Piccolo
16’ Tibia Clausa 4’ Viol
16’ Tibia Clausa (T.C.) 4’ Octave Celeste
16’ Double String (T.C.) 4’ Flute
16’ Contra Viol (T.C.) 2 2/3’ Tibia Twelfth
16’ Bourdon 2 2/3’ Tibia Twelfth
8’ Tuba Mirabilis 2 2/3’ Twelfth
8’ English Horn 2’ Tibia Piccolo
8’ Harmonic Tuba 2’ Tibia Piccolo
8’ Open Diapason 2’ Fifteenth
8’ Tibia Clausa 2’ Piccolo
8’ Tibia Clausa 1 3/5’ Tierce
8’ Saxophone 16’ Piano
8’ Krumet 8’ Piano
8’ Solo String (Replaced Vox) 8’ Piano
8’ Violin Cathedral Chimes
8’ Violin Celeste Sleigh Bells
8’ Kinura Xylophone Re-it
8’ Concert Flute Glockenspiel
8’ Orch. Oboe Orchestra Bells Re-it
Chrysoglott
GT Sub
GT Uni Off
GT Oct
SOLO 6 Divisional Combination Pistons
Lower Bolster Upper Bolster
16’ Tuba Profunda
16’ Diaphone GT to SO Sub
16’ Tibia Clausa GT to SO Uni
8’ English Horn GT to SO Oct
8’ Harmonic Tuba GT to SO Quint
8’ Open Diapason GT to SO Tierce
8’ Tibia Clausa 8’ Tuba Mirabilis
8’ Tibia Clausa Cathedral Chimes
8’ Saxophone Xylophone Re-it
8’ Krumet Glockenspiel
8’ Solo String (Replaced Oboe) Orchestra Bells Re-it
8’ Kinura Carillon
BACKRAIL
EFFECTS
Horse’s Hooves
Surf
Bird
Fire Gong Re-it
ACCOMP 2ND TOUCH
GT to ACC
8’ Tibia Clausa
GT Oct to ACC
Cathedral Chimes
Xylophone Re-it
Glockenspiel
Sleigh Bells
Triangle
Cymbal
Tambourine Slap
SO to ACC
GREAT 2ND TOUCH
16’ Tuba Profunda
8’ Tibia Clausa
8’ Tuba Mirabilis
SO to GT
TREMULANTS
Main
Solo
{Tuba Mirabilis}
Tuba
Tibia Solo
Tibia Main
Virba-phone
Chrysoglott Dampers
SWELL COUPLERS
Main Toggle
Solo Toggle
PUSH BUTTONS
ACCOMPANIEMENT
Right:
GREAT
Left: Grand Crash Cymbal
Right: Bell
KEYCHECKS
Left: Scissor Lift: Up, Down, Stop
Right: Trap Door: Open, Closed, Stop
TOE PUSH BUTTONS
? – Ooga Horn
? – Siren
? – Gong Crash
Gong Re-it
Locomotive Whistle
? – Steamboat Whistle
PEDALS:
Main, Solo, Piano (No longer connected?)
Crescendo Pedal & Red Indicator Light
PIANO PEDALS
Double Touch:
1: Full Organ
2: 2nd Touch
Double Touch:
1: Snare Drum
2: Cymbal & Bass Drum
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