Andover Organ Co.
Opus R-339, 1995

Updated through online information from David C. Nelson.

Updated through online information from David C. Nelson.

Updated through online information from T. Daniel Hancock. -- "The...Congregational Church in East Haddam, CT... [built in]... 1794 ...retains many original features, including hand riven clapboards laid down with rose headed wrought nails, the original door with its hand forged iron hardware, box pews, original double hung window sash with much 18th century glass, and a very striking raised pulpit that has two 'flying' spiral staircases. The pulpit is raised about 10 feet in the air; we were told by the gentleman who let us in that a speaker can be clearly heard all over the church without any artificial amplification at all, even though the building is not particularly live. Clearly modern architects and acousticians could learn a great deal here!

"The organ is a two manual 13 George H. Ryder, his Opus 140 of 1891. ...[I]n 1973 an attempt was made to 'modernize' the instrument. A rather cheaply made console with plastic keys was fitted to the organ, and the stop action was electrified. Several of the original stops were replaced, and the organ was revoiced in neo-Baroque style. In 1995 some of these changes were reversed by Andover, and a new mechanical action stop action was fitted to the instrument. Though the organ bears little resemblance to the original Ryder installation, it is still quite an effective instrument, no doubt due to Andover's fine work." (excerpted from Stephen Roberts posting to Piporg-L)

Tonal change and new mechanical stop action for existing, previously modified 1891 organ by Geo. H. Ryder.