Database Manager on January 5th, 2015:
From the NYC AGO NYC Organ Project: The second organ at Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1895 by J.H. & C.S. Odell of New York City for the 500-seat chapel of the Presbyterian Building at 156 Fifth Avenue (20th Street). Immanuel purchased the organ in 1907, and it was then moved and installed by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company of Boston. In 1953, the Wicks Organ Company rebuilt the Odell Organ and enlarged it to 33 ranks. A new three-manual stop-key console was installed, and provision was made for additional ranks to be added at a future date. Most of the reworked pipework was original to the Odell Organ, but portions of some ranks were replaced. A set of Mayland Chimes, given as a memorial to Maximilian Hollenberg by his wife Martha, was installed. The dedicatory recital was given on November 22, 1953 by Pastor George Wehmeyer and the choirs of Immanuel Church. As this was Wicks' first large installation in Manhattan, a window and light were included in the side of the Great windchest so that their patented Direct-Electric ® Action could be viewed. Many prospective clients were brought to Immanuel to hear the organ and see its mechanism in action. During the major renovation of the church in 1969-1970, the rear gallery was enlarged and the console moved from the front of the organ case to its present detached position.In 1989, the Wicks organ from 1953 was tonally rebuilt by John L. Randolph of Leonia, N.J. Work included the addition of a new German-style Trompete stop; a new Mixture IV; and rescaling of the principal chorus on the Great. In the Swell Organ, Randolph added independent mutation stops (Nazard and Tierce); revoiced the reeds in the brilliant French style, and rescaled the strings. In the Choir Organ, the 4' Flute, Dulciana and Unda Maris were rescaled, and the Clarinet was revoiced in the French style. New reed stops at 16', 8' and 4' pitches were added to the Pedal Organ. Several additional ranks were donated by the builder to "round out" the specifications, as follows: (Swell) 2' Plein Jeu IV, 8' Voix Humaine, replacement of part of the 2' Flute; (Choir) 1/2' Scharff III, 2-2/3' Twelfth and 1-1/3' Nineteenth; (Pedal): 2-2/3' Mixture IV. Randolph also installed a larger combination action in the 1953 Wicks console. The organ and choir are located in the rear gallery and enjoy a resonant acoustic.