the esty company famous for its reed (pump) organs did build your organ. they built many fine pipe organs for churches and movie theatres. pipe organ production ended during world war 2, then they tried electronic organs. went out of business in the 1950's
Yes indeed they did. Opus 2259. I hadn't realized they built pipe organs until I posted this video and did some research. I'd always assumed it was a different company. Speaking of theatre organs, Bloomsburg used to be home to two. A Moller in the Victoria Theatrewhich burnt to the ground in 1927, and a 29 stop Wurlitzer in the Capital Theatre, however that organ has long since been removed, and the Theatre is being turned into an apartment building..
It is odd that it is not in the Swell chamber O.o
They tend not to be very loud anyway - and to work best with soft strings & flutes. From my exp., Estey did not often install them in their organs. They may not even have made it - it could have been bought from another supplier (as chimes usually were). It should be fairly easy to fix to two dead notes....
Find the Estey website; they have access to original contracts, etc.
Originally, it would've sounded over the string and flute stops, maybe even over the geigen diapason.
We had Patrick and Murphy in; they inspected the harp, apparently all the mallots, resonators, etc. are intacted and in perfect place, but there is a problem with the action that would cost thousands to fix. Right now, about 1/4 of all notes sound at all (so you have to use the sub and super couplers to do anything with it), and some of those only sound about half the time you hit them.
Okay I did some research. This organ was Estey's Opus 2259, 10 of the 27 ranks are completely Estey. Their are other stops that have Estey pipe work on the lower notes. The Harp was built by Estey in 1925, and is original to the organ.. The chimes are Deagan and were installed in 1930. Estey installed a new console in 1951. I don't know of any photos of the original console, or the 1951 console. The church does have many old photos, but I've only seen a few small scans.
Thanks. I'm going to try and get some scans of old church photos, I'm going to ask around the church tomorrow to find out what records and photos of the organs exist. I'm interested in finding more out about the Hook & Hastings organ that occupied this church before from 1891 - 1924.
The H&H was about 18 ranks I'm told, it was in the center of the chancel, and the console was high above the rest of the church along with the rest of the organ.
As a romantic organ junkie, that sounds like MY KIND OF ORGAN. I really need to find the stop list for the Estey. According to some of the older members of the church, in the 60s and 70s, it was in bad shape and 'had no punch to it'. I'm sure it had originally been a great romantic organ, but they didn't take care of it, I don't know why. However, at that time the church had many more members, and now we really have to stretch for any kind of funds.
the esty company famous for its reed (pump) organs did build your organ. they built many fine pipe organs for churches and movie theatres. pipe organ production ended during world war 2, then they tried electronic organs. went out of business in the 1950's
joe22twentytoo 2 years ago
Yes indeed they did. Opus 2259. I hadn't realized they built pipe organs until I posted this video and did some research. I'd always assumed it was a different company. Speaking of theatre organs, Bloomsburg used to be home to two. A Moller in the Victoria Theatrewhich burnt to the ground in 1927, and a 29 stop Wurlitzer in the Capital Theatre, however that organ has long since been removed, and the Theatre is being turned into an apartment building..
codeman2008 2 years ago
It is odd that it is not in the Swell chamber O.o
They tend not to be very loud anyway - and to work best with soft strings & flutes. From my exp., Estey did not often install them in their organs. They may not even have made it - it could have been bought from another supplier (as chimes usually were). It should be fairly easy to fix to two dead notes....
Find the Estey website; they have access to original contracts, etc.
19lfm12 2 years ago
Originally, it would've sounded over the string and flute stops, maybe even over the geigen diapason.
We had Patrick and Murphy in; they inspected the harp, apparently all the mallots, resonators, etc. are intacted and in perfect place, but there is a problem with the action that would cost thousands to fix. Right now, about 1/4 of all notes sound at all (so you have to use the sub and super couplers to do anything with it), and some of those only sound about half the time you hit them.
codeman2008 2 years ago
Too bad:(
19lfm12 2 years ago
Okay I did some research. This organ was Estey's Opus 2259, 10 of the 27 ranks are completely Estey. Their are other stops that have Estey pipe work on the lower notes. The Harp was built by Estey in 1925, and is original to the organ.. The chimes are Deagan and were installed in 1930. Estey installed a new console in 1951. I don't know of any photos of the original console, or the 1951 console. The church does have many old photos, but I've only seen a few small scans.
codeman2008 2 years ago
Estey made their own stop key consoles in the 50s. The few I have seen were well made.
They also built pianos & reed organs/harmoniums...thousands of them!
19lfm12 2 years ago
Thanks. I'm going to try and get some scans of old church photos, I'm going to ask around the church tomorrow to find out what records and photos of the organs exist. I'm interested in finding more out about the Hook & Hastings organ that occupied this church before from 1891 - 1924.
codeman2008 2 years ago
The H&H would have been a very fine instrument.
To solve your harp troubles, you need:
1) a trained mouse to strike each action on cue
OR
2) a set of ppl - each with a coke bottle pre-tuned with the right amount of water in it - to blow over the top of the bottle on cue.
:D
19lfm12 2 years ago
I better go buy a mouse!
The H&H was about 18 ranks I'm told, it was in the center of the chancel, and the console was high above the rest of the church along with the rest of the organ.
codeman2008 2 years ago
GT: 8 Open Dia, 8 Melodia, 8 Gamba, 4 Octave, 12th, 15th, 8 Trumpet
SW: 16 Gedeckt, 8 OPen Dia, 8 Salicional, 8 St. Dia, 4 Violina, 4 Harmonic Flute, 2 Piccolo , 8 Cornopeon, 8 Oboe
PED: 16 Bourdon, 16 OPen Wood or 8 Cello (depending on room)
That would be typical of their stock models of that size. Or sometimes the GT had a 3rkMix. in place of a few softer stops as an option.
19lfm12 2 years ago
As a romantic organ junkie, that sounds like MY KIND OF ORGAN. I really need to find the stop list for the Estey. According to some of the older members of the church, in the 60s and 70s, it was in bad shape and 'had no punch to it'. I'm sure it had originally been a great romantic organ, but they didn't take care of it, I don't know why. However, at that time the church had many more members, and now we really have to stretch for any kind of funds.
codeman2008 2 years ago
...and you didn't play the Jeopardy theme on it?
:D
19lfm12 2 years ago
Ha! Never even thought of that, I think I actually might try that. :)
codeman2008 2 years ago
Very nice sounding harp. Shame it doesn't work right though.
octavegeigen4 2 years ago
Oh it has a very nice sound, but it definitely is a shame it can't be used in a practical way.
codeman2008 2 years ago