Multiple Builders
1939-1965-1986

Originally John Hays Hammond Jr.

Hammond Castle Museum

80 Hesperus Ave
Gloucester, MA, US

136 Ranks - 8,260 Pipes - 8 Physical Divisions
Instrument ID: 27123 ● Builder ID: 8224 ● Location ID: 23907
⬆️ These are database IDs that may change. Don't use as academic reference.EXPLORE IMAGESVIEW STOPLIST

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IMAGES

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STOPLISTS

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Taken from inspection of pipework.
Originally Written/Published: 6/4/22

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CONSOLES

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Builder: Ernest M. Skinner Co., Inc.
Position: Movable Console
Design: Traditional Without Cover
Pedalboard Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
Features:
4 Manuals (61 Notes)32 Note Pedal8 Divisions110 StopsElectrical Key ActionElectrical Stop Action✓ Crescendo✓ Sequencer✓ Combination Thumb Piston(s)✓ Combination Toe Piston(s)✓ Coupler Thumb Piston(s)✓ Coupler Toe Piston(s)✓ Sforzando Thumb Piston(s)✓ Sforzando Toe Piston(s)

Stop Layout: Stop Keys on Angled Jambs
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
Combination Action: Computerized/Digital
Control System: SSL

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DETAILS

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This instrument is: Not Extant and Not Playable in this location

John Roper on September 30th, 2023:
The castle has always operated as a museum in some form since being built. Before John Hays Hammond, Jr's death, the museum was conceived in select parts of the building both for tax reasons as well as a way to show off the owner's collection and this pipe organ. After his death, the entire building became a museum.

John Roper on October 29th, 2022:
Incomplete timeline of construction: **1929** - Castle completed during the summer. Organ parts from former home combined with new parts at the castle. **1929-1938** - Organ becomes dormant and partially deconstructed. **1939** - Organ balcony added, 3 manual console installed in the balcony. **1939-1941** - Great moved to new chamber, Reed Chorus installed in old Great chamber **June/July 1941** - Aeolian-Skinner provided 3 Mixtures and 8’ Metal Bourdon for Great **1942** - E.M. Skinner Solo added **1944** - Aeolian-Skinner and Aeolian pipework added to gallery forming Baroque division. Console upgraded to 4 manuals with new combination action **Late 1974/Early 1975** - 4-manual console modified and moved to the floor for Virgil Fox **1984-1986** - New 4-manual console built by Kim Bolten under the E.M. Skinner name In addition, there were a number of additions and swappings of ranks through the years.

John Roper on February 21st, 2022:
The Baroque and majoriy of the Pedal divison (on floor behind console) are from Aeolian Op. 1539 (1925, Gladstone NJ). The Baroque division is specifically the Swell division from 1539. Positiv division (in the gallery) has pipework provided by G. Donald Harrison, but it is placed on Aeolian chests that use an Aeolian regulator and tremulant probably also fromOp. 1539. Great main pipework is Welte, Great mixtures are G. Donald Harrison. Great main chests are Welte and Skinner double-primary, mixture chest is a variation of the Skinner double-primary design with the stop action moved to the end of the chest. There have been 2 consoles for the instrument: 1. Austin with a roll player located in the gallery. Was originally 3 manuals. Upgraded with new manual and conbination action in 1944 by Austin. The console was moved to the floor in approx. 1975 for Virgil Fox. 2. Kim Bolton console built in 1986 with SSL system. The original console is extant in the castle (stored in pieces) but the keyboards and console top are missing.

John Roper on January 13th, 2022:
The Swell, Choir, Solo, and Reed Chorus divisions are located in the ceiling on the left side of the great hall. The ceiling is made out of an acoustically transparent fabric. The great division is on the right wall. The Positive division is located in the gallery at one end. The Baroque and Pedal divisons are located slightly recessed into the floor under the Positiv (behind the console). There are two blowers: - Spencer Turbine 6" output with a 15hp Woods motor - Spencer Turbine 15" output with a 3hp Westinghouse motor

Webpage Links: Virgil Fox at Hammond Castle

Related Instrument Entries: Welte-Mignon Corporation [Welte Organ Co.] (Opus 253, 1927)

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