News:

If you have difficulty registering for an account on the forum please email antespam@gmail.com. In the question regarding the composer use just the surname, not including forenames Charles-Marie.

Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - NEorganist

#1
Organs on eBay or for urgent sale / Re: House organ
July 15, 2014, 12:12:14 AM
Hi,

I might be interested if the offer is still available... andrewfiddes.organist@gmail.com

Thanks,
Andrew
#2
Restoring pipe organs / Re: "Father" Willis Organ
January 19, 2014, 01:24:10 AM
Hi,

It looks a mighty fine instrument, certainly worthy of restoration. I would say that the organ would be a prime candidate for a Historic Organ Certificate, and an application should be made as soon as possible. Once obtained this may well help in applications for grant money towards restoration of the instrument.
Regarding companies for restoration; Harrison & Harrison have very recently completed the restoration of the Father Willis organ in the Union Chapel, Islington London. This was a restoration completed on strict historic principals, which is just what you are looking at with your Willis organ at Preston St George. Interestingly, Ian Bell was also the advisor for that project. As far as I'm aware H&H are the only company to have completed this kind of restoration on such an original Willis organ, and certainly the only one in the last 12 months! They also rebuilt the Father Willis in what is now the 'Cottier Theatre Glasgow', which included the construction of a totally new Barker Lever machine which had been thrown out when the organ was electrified. H&H are the only organ builders to have recently had such extensive experience in these kinds of mechanisms.
You might like to go and see the Union Chapel Willis, it would provide a very useful incite into what the results of a Historic restoration, which is what you're looking at, will be.

Good luck with it all!

Andrew
#3
An organ I rescued from a local Catholic church looks like it could be heading to a convent chapel in/around Gozo in the near future. 
#4
Someone PLEASE save this lovely looking organ, we simply cannot allow it to be scrapped! I saved an organ from a church near my home town, and had I not been storing that until I find a new home for it, I would have gladly gone and saved this one too! We can't let another piece of history go to the scrap man..... 

Andrew 
#5
Norman and Beard's are grand organs, for recital and liturgical purposes! I know any sizeable organ builder would be keen to take on a N&B as a transplant job, Harrison & Harrison in Durham for example.
I would recommend getting in touch with someone ASAP if the organ is facing the scrap-heap.
All the best...
#6
I assume you would like these pipes sprayed; it will give you a better finish than painting. Have you any special spraying equipment yourself? If not, any quote will automatically include use of this. Spray cans will dramatically reduce the cost, and therefore be your cheapest option.  Is there any deadline for this work to be done?
Let me know how you get along.

Andrew
#7
Hi there. I'm quite new to the site myself and just saw your post. Out of interest, where is this organ? I assume they are display pipes from the Open Diapason/Principal?
#8
Any pictures? Sounds like a lovely little organ.
#9
Organs in danger / Re: Organ maybe not in danger any more?
September 19, 2011, 11:23:40 PM
Good look with this project! I have played a couple of extension organs and they prove very effective indeed I find! I hope to save and Nelson quite close to where I live as, like many others, the church is closing. Granted Nelson weren't the best quality, this is a Nelson rebuild (original builder unknown) and is quite a fine little instrument worth saving.
Any tips on how you've been getting on with your 'mission' would be gratefully received! :D
#10
Grove Road, Harrogate? I have a feeling this organ is going to be saved and given a new home :)
#11
 >:(
What absolute rubbish! I can't say how disgusted I am that anyone would say a Harrison organ of 80 years is past it's useful life! I have played at least 2 or 3 Harrison's around my area which were about the first to be built when the firm set up in Durham, and they are certainly still proving useful, and very fine instruments too!!!