Organ matters - Organs matter!

Electronic Organs => Compton Electrones => Topic started by: chrislawtonorganist on May 01, 2012, 05:11:26 PM

Title: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 01, 2012, 05:11:26 PM
Hi there,

Does anyone know of any churches which still use Compton Electronic organs?  I have a big interest in the post war electronic work of Compton.

I did write to Makin organs (as they took over from Compton in 1971) and got the reply 'sorry we cant disclose this information'.  This is PC gone completely mad - im asking for details of organs in PUBLIC places of worship - not a patients medical records!

Hope there are some individuals on here who are ruled by common sense and not PC!  However, private message me if you would feel more comfortable.

Thanks in advance,

Chris Lawton
Title: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 01, 2012, 05:17:13 PM
Makins......hmmmmmm.....what can I say?  Not got a lot of time for the company.  The organs are 'okay' but nothing exciting.

My dealings with Makin have not been brilliant.  I recently asked them for information for research im doing on Compton electrones and I got told 'we cant give away such information'!!!  PC gone mad????  Im asking for info on organs in PUBLIC places of worship - not after hospital records!

Secondly, they were extremely rude and very unprofessional when someone I know who was looking for a home practice organ decided to go for an Eminent instead of Makin who he ahd initially approached.

Im not a great fan of digital organs but given the choice id go for an Eminent.  Every bit as good as a Makin for less the price AND much more helpful!

Just my twopennys worth!
Title: Re: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 01, 2012, 06:51:39 PM
Hi!

Makin not wanting to give info on Comptons seems a bit daft as hardly can that technology have any relevance to their current commercial interests. Or else they simply don't have it and don't want to say as much?

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: revtonynewnham on May 02, 2012, 07:17:53 PM
Hi

Please be careful of how opinions are expressed about any organs - electronic or otherwise.  Considered constructive criticism is fine - calling a project a load of rubbish is not!  What I or someone else dislikes may well be perfectly acceptable to someone else.

As for Compton Electrones, the various bankruptcies and ownership changes over the years mean that the current Makin firm has little real connection with Compton.  Compton organ specialists in Suffolk MAY have some info available - and other electronic organ specialists may also be able to help - but, good as they are on their own terms - and in the light of what was available in their heyday - they are now very old technology.

Every Blessing

Tony
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: revtonynewnham on May 02, 2012, 07:24:24 PM
Hi Chris

See also my comments in the Makin repair thread re the current company.

Burnham on Crouch URC was still using a Compton Electrone in the late 1990's when I left the area, as was the Anglican Chapel of Ease in Maylandsea, Essex (that's the church in Maylandsea village - NOT Maylands parish church which is about 3 miles away and has (had) the remains of a 2 manual Forster & Andrews house organ cut down to a single manual.  The Electrone at Maylandsea was put in c. 1996 - secondhand.  I was one of 4 local organists who played the opening recital.  (That was the occaision where I played Norman Cocker's Tuba Tune - printed in the programme as "Tuber Tune"!)

I've not come across any others recently, although one of the now redundant Congregational Federation churches was selling an Electrone recently.

Every Blessing

Tony
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 02, 2012, 07:32:56 PM
Thank you muchly for that Tony!

I also realised today why Makins wouldnt disclose to me the info - everytime I go somewhere and tell the church how rare and wonderful their electrone is, im potentially losing them a sale!
Title: Re: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 02, 2012, 07:36:40 PM
Had no luck with Compton organs in Suffolk either Tony.

However it has occured today as to why Makins and Suffolk Comptons dont want to give me info.  Im potentially losing them business!

Im visiting churches and telling them how rare and wonderful their electrone is and how they should hang on to it etc etc.  I know for a fact ive lost one of the forementioned companies two sales as a result of me visiting!  LOL
Title: Re: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 02, 2012, 08:23:32 PM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 02, 2012, 07:36:40 PM
However it has occured today as to why Makins and Suffolk Comptons dont want to give me info.  Im potentially losing them business!

Im visiting churches and telling them how rare and wonderful their electrone is and how they should hang on to it etc etc.  I know for a fact ive lost one of the forementioned companies two sales as a result of me visiting!  LOL

Um. Perhaps their lack of forthcoming and your activities in losing them sales might possibly be linked. They might well consider that you're setting up in competition and declaring commercial warfare . . . Possibly not the best way of making friends and influencing people . . .

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: organforumadmin on May 02, 2012, 08:31:10 PM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 02, 2012, 07:32:56 PM
Thank you muchly for that Tony!

I also realised today why Makins wouldnt disclose to me the info - everytime I go somewhere and tell the church how rare and wonderful their electrone is, im potentially losing them a sale!


This is a thread which is substantially duplicated on another thread in parallel and therefore spam.


Other visitors to the site do not wish to wade through stuff which may be of marginal interest to them twice in duplicate.


Forum Admin
Title: Re: Seeking information on Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 02, 2012, 10:57:52 PM
A big thank you to a couple of people for messaging me some interesting information!  They know who they are!  Thats two more electrones found!

Love them or hate them they were wondrous things of their time and opportunities should be taken to preserve examples for future generations - just like the great steam locomotives.  I happen to really admire them and know im in a big minority - but then again, I never was one to 'follow the crowd'!!!
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: Compton Organs(R) on May 08, 2012, 09:57:17 PM
I was rather disturbed by comments that Compton Organs Suffolk have been unhelpful in supplying information on churches using Compton Electrones and general information on Compton Electrone organs.

Firstly, out of courtesy to a church and conducting a business on a professional level, it is important to us to ask the permission from a church, before giving their details to a member of the public. Whilst the Compton Electrones were light years ahead of the competition in the 1950-60's most organists and churches would agree that later technology has seriously put these once fine instruments in the shade, regarding authentic pipe organ tone and practically maintenance free costs. As a result very few churches today still use a Compton Electrone organ. When requested recently for a list of Compton - using churches we were hard pushed to name two! When asked whether we could have their authority to let  someone who has an interest to play these organs to contact them, both declined. We should therefore respect people's opinions on not allowing organ enthusiasts to play their instruments and not just assume it is Political Correctness gone mad.

To suggest that we are worried that it could lose us new business, is rather a banal comment, when you consider an elderly 50-60 year old Compton is hardly in the same category as a new digital organ!

We have people emailing us, sometimes from outside the U.K. asking for information on Compton Electrone organs and we are very pleased to be able to help them. Indeed we have never refused this class of help and being fortunate to possess such specialised material, we feel a deep sense of responsibility to pass on this information.

Robert Cook
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: flared_ophicleide on May 14, 2012, 01:16:37 AM
This may be a bit off-the-wall, but I was watching the Beatles' HELP! movie, and early on, we see Paul McCartney playing a 3-manual electronic theatre, Art-Deco-style.  My first guess was that it was a Compton, possibly an Electrone.
By chance, has anybody seen this movie?
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 10:31:30 AM
I watched the Beatles Movie last night after reading your comment and at about 6 minutes into the film is the organ scene.  It is indeed a Compton electrone - the model 3ME to be exact.  The surround is a copy of the Odeon, Leicester Square.

I feel I should also point out that my comment regarding losing electronic organ companies business was nothing more than a joke and wasnt meant to cause any harm.  I dont think any church is going to take much notice of a guy who makes one visit to play their organ and as pointed out, a 50-60 year old electrone is nothing over a modern digital without any moving parts.  I guess many people in the 60s begged British Rail not to get rid of their 'rare' and 'wonderful' steam locomotives......

Compton Organs in Suffolk have been VERY helpful - I had an email from them yesterday.  I had emailed a few months ago and received no reply.  A pipe organ building friend of mine had told me not long after I approached Makin and Compton Organs 'not to expect much from an electronic organ company' which seemed to make sense at the time and having never approached organ companies before in this way this was completely new to me.  Obviously, if a church says no then there is nothing else that can be done.  Always think attitudes like that are destructive really when you get organists that see it as 'theirs' and 'theirs only'.  Is it any surprise why so many youngsters now have no interest in the organ?  Who can blame them really if they show an interest and their first encounter is with a 'terrotorial' organist.  However, that is an entire topic in itself.

I must say though, having wrote to 3 pipe organ builders I received info very quickly without any problems.  In fact, I know now the locations of pretty much every Compton pipe organ in Scotland!!!  Im not going visiting yet though for as much as I am a big Compton fan, im not driving a round trip of 600+ plus miles to play a Miniatura in a village in the Highlands 20 miles north of Fort Augustus for just one example!
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: MusingMuso on May 14, 2012, 10:46:19 AM
Quote from: flared_ophicleide on May 14, 2012, 01:16:37 AM
This may be a bit off-the-wall, but I was watching the Beatles' HELP! movie, and early on, we see Paul McCartney playing a 3-manual electronic theatre, Art-Deco-style.  My first guess was that it was a Compton, possibly an Electrone.
By chance, has anybody seen this movie?


===========================


I like the organ-console in this film:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Nf1ahgmyk


That's got to be a Compton, surely?



MM
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 14, 2012, 05:44:45 PM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 10:31:30 AMI guess many people in the 60s begged British Rail not to get rid of their 'rare' and 'wonderful' steam locomotives......

:-) Perhaps lovers of pipe organs might consider the Electrone comparison better made in the efforts to preserve lost and unloved dirty and noisy DMUs which caused a distinctive rumbling whoosh to be emitted from many a countryside tunnel vent and without which, in the absence of church clock bells, timekeeping in the countryside no longer has aural landmarks . . .

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 06:22:54 PM
However, interest in the old British Rail DMUs is started to slowly rise.  The East Lancashire Railway now has regular 'Diesel Days' (in addition to 1940s weekends, LMS weekends etc) and seems to get a good number to these.
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: Barrie Davis on May 14, 2012, 07:40:18 PM
Hi

We could start a new thread about railways!!! I remember the GWR having a diesel railcar on its Severn Valley line when it went from Kidderminster to Shrewsbury, noisy horrid looking machine, I much prefer steam!!!!

The late Charles Lloyd who was organist at Worfield in Shropshire had a large minature railway in the grounds of his house, he used to get back from church and in between services and open the line to the public.

David how about a line at Hammerwood  :P

Best wishes

Barrie
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 09:42:26 PM
Well a lot of organ enthusiasts also have an interest in railways (myself included) so why not?

I guess you could say I have a love of all things vintage and unusual.  Railways which include everything from steam, diesel, electric, underground and metros to Virgin Pendolinos.  I did want a vintage car a few years ago but my partner Michelle put up a barrier on that one - she did let me have an electrone taking up half the lounge so felt not worth pushing my luck! Art-deco is another of my interests and sometimes when I visit London I get a thrill from just walking around such places as Northolt, Greenford and Perivale - and of course old cinemas where that interest and the organ go hand in hand.

One musnt think im anti-pipe - far from it.  I have an interest in the Compton company as a whole.  On a practical level, the sound is nothing on modern technology but spinning wheels and glowing valves fascinate me.  Looking at a few circuit boards just doesnt thrill me if you see what I mean.
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 14, 2012, 10:11:09 PM
Quote from: Barrie Davis on May 14, 2012, 07:40:18 PM
The late Charles Lloyd who was organist at Worfield in Shropshire had a large minature railway in the grounds of his house, he used to get back from church and in between services and open the line to the public.

One of the past presidents, I believe, of EOCS at Dormans in Surrey opened his doors to the society to enjoy the large three manual instrument he built as well as his railway line. Sadly I arrived too late to experience the latter . . .

One of the most genious of organists, in my opinion, of our time earns is a Great Western driver as his main job. It's a pity that good instrumentalists are not appreciated enough for them to be able to earn a living from playing . . .

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Drinkell on May 15, 2012, 01:31:55 AM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 06:22:54 PM
However, interest in the old British Rail DMUs is started to slowly rise.  The East Lancashire Railway now has regular 'Diesel Days' (in addition to 1940s weekends, LMS weekends etc) and seems to get a good number to these.

I remember, a few years ago, on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch, a small boy kicking up a dreadful fuss when they took the diesel locomotive off at New Romney and put one of Greenley's Pacifics ('Hurricane' - my favourite) on to take the train to Hythe.  Obnoxious little brat, of course, but a sign of the times.
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: revtonynewnham on May 15, 2012, 10:15:31 AM
Hi

Another railway enthusiast here.  I have a soft spot for the old Southern EMU's, having travelled to school on them every day for 5 years back in the 1960's.  But I was annoyed at the end of steam - especially in winter, as the one station that we could travel on the Brighton-Horsham train was a good way to warm up - the heating was far more effective than on the electrics!

Every Blessing

Tony
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 15, 2012, 11:02:30 AM
Think the title of this thread now needs changing!  ;D
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 15, 2012, 11:29:05 AM
Sorry - I apologise. I was trying to be as derogatory about Electrones as people are towards DMUs - but in the good humoured knowledge that one can have a soft spot for things that are ugliy ducklings. I hope to be forgiven too for referring to high voltages that some find exciting. . .

However, the forerunner of the Electrone was the Melotone which gave good service in cinemas and a sound that was liked . . . and on account of availability of higher harmonics
http://www.zyworld.com/IvorBuckingham/Melotone.htm
was something much more interesting than the Hammond in equivalent service.

Whether or not one is a pipe organ purist, one must have the greatest of respect for the ingenuity of Comptons not only for being willing to drive the instrument into aural and technological territories unknown before, but for the sheer technological ingenuity of the system and difficulties in getting the system to work . . .

However, their ideas weren't always wholly original. Their Solo Cello
http://www.zyworld.com/IvorBuckingham/Page6.htm derived clearly from the Hupfield automatic violin, of which I have childhood memories from the Musical Museum at Kew:
http://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/history/hupfeld/hh_index.htm

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 15, 2012, 12:24:26 PM
No need to apologise David.  I meant the title should be changed to 'Great Electrone and Rail Expeditions' or something like that!  LOL

High voltages that some find exciting....I have this image in my head of a mad professor in a science lab getting a thrill from blowing things up!  :D

I am now yearning for a train ride to London on a tilting Pendolino class 390 and a good ride around on the tube after reading the last few posts........and maybe visit a few Compton equipped churches en route!
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 15, 2012, 04:09:20 PM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 15, 2012, 12:24:26 PM
No need to apologise David.  I meant the title should be changed to 'Great Electrone and Rail Expeditions' or something like that!  LOL

I am now yearning for a train ride to London on a tilting Pendolino class 390 and a good ride around on the tube after reading the last few posts........and maybe visit a few Compton equipped churches en route!

No - merely Compton Electone and Train spotting . . .

Quote
High voltages that some find exciting....I have this image in my head of a mad professor in a science lab getting a thrill from blowing things up!  :D

The jerks caused by electrocution . . .

:-)

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: Lucien Nunes on May 20, 2012, 04:25:25 PM
I will begin by saying that I don't have a clue about trains, stationary steam being much more my cup of tea. Returning to the topic of finding Electrones...

Quotethey were wondrous things of their time and opportunities should be taken to preserve examples

I agree, the Compton Electrone is a museum-piece nowadays; some would argue that they were museum-pieces back in the 1960s when solid-state tone generation was becoming a practical reality. It will be the end of an era when the last one in a church is finally decommissioned but that time will surely come. The Electrone story will not quite end there, because at Electrokinetica we are conserving a selection, and there are a few others doing likewise. See http://www.electrokinetica.org/d8/1/index.php (http://www.electrokinetica.org/d8/1/index.php) for a tour!

In this connection it is fair to say that Robert Cook of Compton Organ Specialists has been very helpful and supportive of the project. Although many of the Electrones he encounters are only fit to be stripped down for parts, he singles out the best examples for enthusiasts and collectors such as ourselves to be kept complete and will go to some lengths to prevent these being broken up. Indeed only last week I got a call from Robert with the enthusiastic message that he had obtained an instrument with an unusual type of action that we had been looking for, which I now need to pick up. He has also kindly sent us all sorts of information, brochures, pictures, spares etc. Any reluctance on his part to provide information regarding Electrones is, I am sure, down to the customer-specific nature of the information requested. Clearly Electrones are just a sideline for Robert now that they are thin on the ground, however I know nothing of his main business selling digital organs as I have never been in the market for one.

We are also indebted to David Fetterman of Makin Organs for technical information etc. His wilingness to answer my many questions reflects well on the company's support policy and I suspect that it was again just the particular details being asked for that they would not give out.

To conclude, I would say that most of the large instruments are now gone, many broken up relatively recently. Please help us find and document for posterity any sleepers that you know of - I'm thinking of 3-4 manual jobs or ones with drawstops or external generator cabinets. In the meantime if you visit the Electrone Pages at Electrokinetica I hope you enjoy seeing what we have done so far to conserve the marque.

Lucien
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: revtonynewnham on May 20, 2012, 06:14:01 PM
Hi

I would say that it was at least the mid-'70's before transistorised generators really caught uptonally  - with a few notable exceptions.

Good to see the museum web page - hopefully I may get to visit in person one day.

Every Blessing

Tony
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 21, 2012, 12:37:30 AM
Dear Lucien

Thanks for drawing threads together here - it is for the sorts of reasons outlined here that it has been a particular pleasure to have brought about the circumstances for the preservation of the Lancaster Priory instrument - a four manual analogue Makin - which could possibly have been conceived using Compton generators but which were and are solid state designed by David Fetterman.

It is a sobering thought that knowledge of so much vintage technology is with just one man whose loss when he retires will be to a whole swathe of instruments.

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on May 25, 2012, 01:26:53 AM
Well folks - im pleased to say I have been given a list of just under TWENTY Compton electrone installations still working in churches of all denominations in various parts of the country that have been seen in the last six months!  Three of these I already knew about so thats another 17 potential ones to visit in hopefully the not to distant future. 

These instruments comprise of 357, 363 and CH2 models and 3 'Sonatina' models.

Proves there are still quite a few out there! 
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: flared_ophicleide on May 26, 2012, 05:08:23 AM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 09:42:26 PM
Well a lot of organ enthusiasts also have an interest in railways (myself included) so why not?


Why do you suppose that is?  What's the connection?  Organs and trains are both large, complex things. *shrug*

I've been interested in both since I was little.  I'm involved in two organ projects right now.  Restoring one and building the other.  As for railroads, though not a priority now, I would go on trainspotting trips with my scanner & camera.  Chase trains.  Stay up very late watching them, and all that.

Altoona, PA, is a major spot.  Then, I would visit their cathedral to see their 1931 Steinmeyer (there!  back on the organ topic. lol)

btw...  Chris.  Thanks for all those youtube clips about Comptons you've played.  As far as voicing and tonal design goes, J. Compton was a bloody genius!  I have a lot of respect for him.
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: KB7DQH on May 26, 2012, 11:34:48 AM
QuoteI've been interested in both since I was little.

Ditto... See www.youtube.com/user/kb7dqh (http://www.youtube.com/user/kb7dqh)

http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,447.0.html (http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,447.0.html)


There have been some other threads correlating these two interests on this forum... and worthy of investigating if you haven't already ;)

http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,447.0.html (http://www.organmatters.com/index.php/topic,447.0.html)

I have also noticed a fair number of Amateur radio operators similarly interested in the Pipe organ also ??? ;) ;D

Eric
KB7DQH
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: flared_ophicleide on May 26, 2012, 02:08:20 PM
Quote from: chrislawtonorganist on May 14, 2012, 10:31:30 AM
I watched the Beatles Movie last night after reading your comment and at about 6 minutes into the film is the organ scene.

Since I'm not able to quote off my own post, I'll do my best from this one.
Recalling that P. McCartney was briefly playing the Compton, one might wonder if he's ever played a pipe organ?

From what I know....   close to it.

Ian Tracey was working on an organ transcription, or portion (don't remember), of McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum with McC. helping him in determining the registrations.  According to Ian, Paul was indeed interested in the big Willis.  Awesome, huh?
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Pinnegar on May 27, 2012, 11:18:44 PM
Hi!

Is this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Compton-Church-Organ-good-condition-/270986216216 ?

Best wishes

David P
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: chrislawtonorganist on June 01, 2012, 01:54:04 AM

btw...  Chris.  Thanks for all those youtube clips about Comptons you've played.  As far as voicing and tonal design goes, J. Compton was a bloody genius!  I have a lot of respect for him.


Thank you Flared_Ophicleide.  Im nowt special really - just a hymn machine but im a big believer in archiving and preservation and since I was 15, Compton electrones and Compton organs in general be it pipes, cinema, melotone, electrone, miniatura etc etc I have found fascinating.  Digital organs are great but I find them 'functional' but not 'interesting' if that makes sense.

Im the proud owner of a 357 electrone at home and wouldnt swop it for any other electronic instrument.  With 2 spare belts, a complete set of spare generators and a complete set of spare valves plus a few other bits and bobs I have no doubt that the organ will outlive me!
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: David Morrell on June 28, 2013, 05:28:32 PM
Ive got a Compton electrone got it for the 2 manuals, to add to the other two in a digital build, the remains are for sale console contains an original valve amplifier, and generators and stop keys,

if anyone is interested. email conachertrust
Title: Re: Compton Electrones
Post by: Compton Organs(R) on July 14, 2013, 06:39:57 AM
Hello, have you still got the Compton Electrone valve amplifier please.