Austin Organs, Inc.
Opus 2470, 1967

Database Manager on September 23rd, 2019:
Updated by Ronald Pearson, who has heard or played the organ. <br> <br>I have been Organist here since September 1, 1974; still active.<br>The organ was renovated and updated (not “restored”)by Foley-Baker, Inc. beginning in Fall of 2013, completed in early 2015. Work included a major console upgrade- new Classic control system with 250 memory levels; new OSI bone manual keyboard; new Syndyne drawknobs, new Harris coupler tabs, four new Walker Technical shoes, several tonal changes; the main organ in the front is augmented by a 19-rank Antiphonal section with independent Great, Swell, and Pedal; and a Trompette en Chamade which was re-located in the FBI project to a much improved placement in front of a stained glass window in the rear gallery. FBI work included a complete cleaning of all pipework and chambers; all new chest actions in the Antiphonal divisions, some re-actioning of the main organ chests; all reservoirs and winkers were completely re-furbished. The main console shell was retained and all wood was refinished; the front to back depth was decreased by about 8”. A second mini-console of two manuals and pedals was provided in the FBI project; it is located in the center of the choir loft, to allow for a combined Organist-Director arrangement. The mini-console has a separate Classic control system also with 250 memory levels, and it controls the entire organ- Main and Antiphonal- via small push button controls with dimmable LED lights to indicate on-off functions. The mini-console also includes a matching set of four shoes, also by Walker Technical. Both consoles are equipped with record-playback by Classic; the main console also has a second record-playback system by Syndyne. As part of the comprehensive renovation/upgrade project, all reed pipes were contracted to Chris Broome, of Broome and Company, East Granby, CT, for cleaning, repairs and revoicing as needed. Three of the 8’ reeds (Bombarde on Solo, Trompette Harmonique on Solo and Choir, and Trompette en Chamade) were re-tongued with thicker brass and heavier loading, to provide more fundamental tone. In the Solo division, a VI Tierce Mixture was changed to a III Chorus Mixture, and the vacant space was re-fitted with a new chest bar which received an E. M. Skinner 8’ Clarinet from Skinner op. 308, originally located in the St. Paul, MN Civic Center. Chris Broome was responsible for acquiring the Skinner pipes, and he carried out all work done on these pipes. The Solo chest modification and new chest bar necessary to add the Clarinet was done by Jim Bennett, FBI staff.

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Database Manager on December 4th, 2015:
Updated through online information from John Igoe. <br>Article in <i>The American Organist</i>, December 2015 notes that the organ was "recently restored by Foley-Baker, Inc."

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Database Manager on August 14th, 2008:
Updated through online information from Jeff Scofield.

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Database Manager on January 8th, 2005:
Information identifying this instrument from the Austin Organs, Inc. web site, accessed December 31, 2004: http://www.austinorgans.com/organ-research.htm.