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Upgrade just postponed, so seeking alternatives

Started by ozaru, May 07, 2012, 10:56:59 PM

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ozaru

At our church in North-East Kent we have an old 2 manual tracker organ (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N12907) where one of the pedal notes has failed (rollers rusted through; all the rollers are apparently in a similar state so likely to fail soon). Repairs would be around £1000 but everyone who knows it (the local organ builders, diocesan organ advisor, local organists) says it's not really worth it: it's too small for the church and unsuitable for the concerts & recitals we're aiming to stage there.

Until today we had an option on a much better organ (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D03036) -- only 39 years old, electro-pneumatic, reeds, pistons, Mixture, 32', etc. -- all features I'd like, and lack at present. It also would fit into the space available, just. Sadly, the situation on their side has changed so all bets & offers are off for the time being.

We had looked at one more in the region (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N00219) which would also have been a significant improvement -- but sadly, the cost of shifting it was estimated at £40,000+ which is well outside our budget (£25,000 or so, including purchase cost if any, moving, cleaning, repairs, VAT and all).

I have looked at the IBO list (and glanced at eBay), but don't know enough myself to decide whether the total cost implications of e.g. http://www.ibo.co.uk/IBO2005/services/redundant/manResult.asp?manuals=three&Submit=View&index=5 would be within our budget or way outside. Unfortunately the IBO list contains nothing in Kent we don't already know, and travelling to Manchester, Wiltshire and Devon "just in case" isn't really an option. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

David Pinnegar

Hi!

Many organ builders with soft hearts will have rescued an unloved but worthy instrument or two and have them in store. So it's worth enquiring of them . . .

To the right of these pages there is a link to Matthew Copley who is based in South East England and as such a call to him might be helpful. He's likely to have something in storage somewhere. Jonathan Lane possibly does also and it's worth enquiring of GO - Gary Owen - about whom I've heard good things more than once or twice but both Jonathan and Gary are further afield. Eric Shepherd in London is also very helpful and may know of something somewhere.

Best wishes

David P

Robin Stalker

Quote from: ozaru on May 07, 2012, 10:56:59 PM


Until today we had an option on a much better organ (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D03036) -- only 39 years old, electro-pneumatic, reeds, pistons, Mixture, 32', etc. -- all features I'd like, and lack at present. It also would fit into the space available, just. Sadly, the situation on their side has changed so all bets & offers are off for the time being.



Our project is delayed, not cancelled. I wouldn't give up just yet

ozaru

Hi Robin,
We're certainly not giving up, and are still very much hoping that you do find a solution which enables us to offer your organ a new home. At the same time, we have a perfect window to do all the work in a couple of months' time (when the church is closed for other fabric repairs -- and before the new VAT rules bite), so just in case your church finds no solution, or no quick solution, it seems prudent to investigate other options. I doubt we'll find anything more suitable (or even more or less as suitable but available more quickly), but I really have little idea what's out there. Anyway, you never know unless you ask, so David's suggestions are most welcome.

diapason

I know that Matthew Copley has recently rescued a very nice Flight & Robson 2-manual from the church of Bishop's Hull in Taunton.  It might be worth a call to see if it's still available.  It's a decent instrument with an interesting history.
N