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 - John Gilbert

#1
Restoring pipe organs / Re: "Father" Willis Organ
March 06, 2014, 12:29:12 PM
To the original poster of this topic I would say, " You should most certainly include Henry Willis & Sons Ltd. in the list of firms to consider."  They have recently cleaned and overhauled the organ in my parish in Cornwall, a fine 1895 Hele of Plymouth instrument.  Admittedly we had high expectations, but it is no exaggeration to say that those expectations have been exceeded in every respect.  The quality of work is superb and the attention to detail impressive.  The Willis men working on site were not only excellent craftsmen, but endeared themselves to everyone with whom they had dealings in the parish.  Despite having its console, pipework and action moved several hundred miles to Liverpool and back, the organ has behaved impeccably since its re-installation, even though it has not had its final settling in adjustments yet.  Not a single cipher and even the tuning has remained reasonably stable.  The mechanical action is now beautifully balanced, the keys and pedalboard superbly refurbished and no plastic or bone in sight! Only authentic materials were used.  To anyone who has responsibility for a Willis organ, I should say the original firm would seem to be an obvious choice, not least because of the high quality of work they are offering, allied to the impressive resources and unique knowledge the company possesses.