Hello everyone. Just joined the forum. Anyways, I've got an old Pipe Organ I rescued from a Methodist church that was going to destroy it. It's missing the console and the blower but everything else is there.
I was wondering if there is a way to find out who made it, when it was made, and any other information on it. I have not found any makers plate or anything else that might give a clue to that or any other information on it. I assume that was all on the console.
I assume it was made circa 1927-28 as the part of the church it was in was completed in 1928, and I also found out that the console was destroyed in a fire in 1960 but thats all I know about it.
I would really like to get this organ set up and working again someday, but for now it just sitting around taking up space.

Thanks for any help with this.

Got any pics of it? Notice any words or tags anywhere on the instrument?

Sounds quite interesting! Would love to learn more about it!

I have several pages of pictures on photobucket.

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x253/AZA_-/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16

There are numbers stamped on most of the pieces of wood, but I haven't found anything else.

The reason I got this organ for free was the Building our church rents was remodeling this summer and when I asked them what they were going to do with the organ they said the contractor was going to remove it.
When I asked them if I could have it if I removed it, they said I can have whatever I could get before the contractor starts work.
So my dad and brother helped me get the entire thing out of the church within the month timeframe we had to work.

Theres 13 ranks and about 640 or so pipes.

Wow Thanks for the photos! I cant say I can identify it, but it really looks great! I would say for free is an awesome deal you got yourself! Congrats!

Organ builders sometimes put a signature somewhere on a pipe, maybe you can find one. I'd say early 20th century looks about right.

The pipework looks as if it's still in good shape, but the windchests might be another matter. Do you know what kind of chests they are? If your organ is indeed from the 1920s, you're probably looking at membrane chests with electro-pneumatic actions. The membranes are usually made of leather and need regular replacement, and if your organ has been untouched for 50 years, they've probably crumbled to dust already. And the wiring looks scary too. You've probably guessed so already, but that's quite a restoration job you're looking at there. But it's not going to be as expensive as a new organ and you've got free pipes and windchests already (and parts of the casing, as it looks like), so you've got quite a good deal I'd say.

Thanks for the replies guys! I will check the pipes for a signature. Is there anything else that might tell me who made it?
Not all the pipes are in good condition. There are 3 broken ones and several that are bent or have bad dents in them.
And yes it is an electroneumatic organ. I haven't looked inside the chests.
The leather on most of the bellows for the chimes have crumbled away so I would imagine its probably about the same in the windchests.

I have the entire frame work for the organ and the veins also. So if I ever get a room big enough to set it up the original way it shouldn't be to bad.

We had a lot of fun removing the organ (especially blowing on the pipes to see what they sound like) and I got a free working player piano out of the church too, so it was an even better deal.
I know very little about pipe organs, but I've sure learned a lot with this one so far.

You do have quite a job ahead of you. It does look like a fairly sizable organ. A place that I like to surf is Churchorgantrader.com. You can get all kinds of parts. You will probably need some advice and I am not sure if you can get that there. The American Guild of Organists and American Pipe Organ Builders Assoc. would also be good resources for help. Keep looking for a name. I am assuming that the blower is an Orgoblower by Spenser. Those can be rebuilt if you are handy enough. Good luck.

what a wonderfully fun project. The pictures are awesome. Even unplayable.. it would make a lovely decoration for a home interior

(have you visited the 'House on the Rock'? There are many vintage instruments there and it might be somewhat in your neighborhood.

I wish you the best of luck. There is an organ forum and there is a rebuilding section there.

http://www.organforum.com/forums/forumdi...bef6452b5cfbd44

Thanks for the info so far.
No I've never been to the house on the rock, never really had enough interest to stop I guess.
I haven't found any signatures on the pipes. Theres writing on the windchests but I figure that has to do with assembling it.
I have several of the large wooden pipes just standing in the corners and a rank of metal ones set up at my parents house, and also several ranks set up at my house. They do make great decorations.

I work on pipe organs and if you can describe what the playing action of the chestwork looks like, I may have an answer for you! If the chestwork has small leather covered pneumatics in it, It may be Tellers or if the action has a center rod with the pouch at the bottom and the oppoisite end the pallet pad it could be a kilgen! See what your interior chest is like and let me know!!

Sorry I took so long to reply. Been busy busy. Anyway it has leather covered pneumatic valves in the chests.

It is very likely that all of the leather in this organ will need to be replaced. There are various sources for this material, and I will tell you it is not inexpensive. The reservoirs all appear to be borderline ready to blow apart due to age and dryness of the leather - especially at the corners and hinge sections.

Take a look at the small electric magnets that are part of the windchests (underneath +/or at one side) as they might have the mfgr name on them. Or if you are still on this thread, take pictures of the magnets and we'll see if they can be identified.

A console might be moderately inexpensive if you can find one that's in parts. You should also probably be able to find a used, but serviceable, blower. The question will be what wind pressures the pipes are voiced at and an estimate of what amount of CFM's you will need.

In any event... there are other sources out there for you to utilize on restoring this instrument. Good luck with it!

Doug