John Wanamaker Store / Macy's Center City
1300 Market Street
Philadelphia,
PA
19107 US
The Grand Court
Organ ID: 131
Stentor organ was to have additional stops including stops on 50-100 inches of wind, but was never realized.
Updated through online information from Paul Marchesano. -- 8' Centennial Tuba (61 pipes, 25" w.p.), unenclosed, installed 2010. Playable from the Stentor Division manual. Console is connected to Peterson solid state combination action. Original vacuum pneumatic and magnets still move the stop tablets. Most of the organ runs on original electric relays.
Updated through on-line information from Ray Biswanger. -- Original instrument designed by George Ashdown Audsley. Additions by the Wanamaker Organ Shop
Updated through on-line information from Nikola Sizgorich.
Updated through on-line information from Angela G. Saunders, DMA. -- The orchestral division is currently inoperable, awaiting restoration. Extensive renovations to the store are being carried out this summer, as part of the transition to Macy's. I do not know how much of this work involves the organ.
Updated through on-line information from Angela Saunders. -- As of this writing, the instrument has undergone considerable repair in the last 5 years. Most of it is now playable, although more work requires to be done with the Swell and Choir divisions. The console has been rebuilt using Peterson solid state switching.
Status Note: There 1994.
"Organ began as Los Angeles Art Organ for Kansas City Convention Hall. Installed at 1904 World's Fair, St. Louis, MO. Stored, then enlarged to 6m, 451 stops by Wanamaker staff for Grand Court of Wanamaker's. Building purchased by Macy's then Hecht's."
Console: Photograph by Martin Doering via https://die-orgelseite.de, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2015-06-22
Swell shoes: Photograph by Martin Doering via https://die-orgelseite.de, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2015-06-22
Inside the console: Photograph by Martin Doering via https://die-orgelseite.de, submitted by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2015-06-22