Unknown Builder (1918)

Originally A. B. Felgemaker Co. (Opus 430, 1881)

Location:

Trinity Episcopal Church
10 East Fourth Street
London, OH 43140 US
Organ ID: 6532

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Episcopal and Anglican Churches
  • The organ is unaltered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Database Manager on October 24, 2019.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider
  • 15 ranks. 3 divisions. 2 manuals. 15 stops. 20 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In side chambers at the front of the room. Facade pipes or case front visible.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on October 24, 2019.
Main:
  • Manuals: 2
  • Divisions: 3
  • Stops: 15
  • Registers: 20
  • Position: Keydesk attached, manuals set into case.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 27
  • Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
  • Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style with a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
  • Combination Action: No combination action.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
  • Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
  • Has Coupler Reversible Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on October 24, 2019.
Database Manager on October 24, 2019:

Updated by Lia Ferrell, who has heard or played the organ.
This organ is still going strong in 2019. I play it every Sunday and the congregation sings heartily. Muller Pipe Organ Company is still maintaining and tuning it. With Michael Schreffler (organist at First UMC) I gave a concert on it on March 11, 2018.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on October 25, 2019.

Database Manager on December 11, 2017:

Updated by J. A. Hefner, who has heard or played the organ.
I have had a few opportunities to play, record, and document this organ. Despite the high cost of maintenance, it is in very nice shape, with only a few quirks [the entire instrument is rather sharp, almost like each note sounds a quarter-tone higher than it should be...the blower and tremulant are very loud and mar the sound quality, and a few of the lower pedal notes don't work].
It has a basic combination action, with foot trundles for Great to Pedal reversible coupler, Piano/Soft, and Forte/Grand. The swell pedal is a crude mechanism with the heel connected to a shunt-lever which controls the internal swell-box shutters. It's open by default, and has to be manually held shut, but the pedal's position [and the bolted-down bench] make operation uncomfortable, unlike later Felgemakers with recessed right-side pedals and balanced pedals.
The façade pipes speak. Due to the instrument's location in an alcove, plus the loud blower and tremulant, it is somewhat quiet except in full-organ, and it isn't audible outside the sanctuary. At some point, the keys were replaced or otherwise refinished [the surfaces are plastic, not ivory or bone].

According to church history, the building was first built across the street in 1870, then dismantled and moved to present location in 1917-1918. At this time, Christ Episcopal in Springfield was planning to install a new Skinner organ [opus 285, thanks to Ellen Bushnell] to replace its Felgemaker opus 430. Trinity never had a pipe organ, so they expressed interest and acquired ABF opus 430, installing it in the reconstructed church. It is the only Felgemaker from Springfield to still play, and it is one of the oldest playing Felgemakers I have found. It sounds nice in spite of its quirks. Thankfully, the current vicar and congregation want to keep it, and it will be the subject of more performances and recordings to come.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on February 11, 2019.

Database Manager on January 03, 2017:

Updated by Louis Huffman, who did not provide the source of his information.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Database Manager on January 30, 2014:

Updated through online information from Tim Wilson. -- This instrument was relocated in 1918 from Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Ohio when they installed their new E.M. Skinner, Opus 285. The organ is completely original except for the electric blower. Some releathering has been performed over the years.
The organ was for sale with Organ Clearing House in the early 2000's. When the priest (at the time the organ was listed for sale) left Trinity Church, the congregation did not want to sell their instrument so it remains still in use today. The instrument is used each Sunday for mass. Muller Pipe Organ Company, Croton, Ohio is responsible for the maintenance and tuning. Trinity Church makes every effort, as funds are available, to keep the organ in a good state of playing condition.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Database Manager on March 06, 2010:

Updated through online information from Earl Green. -- I practiced on this organ from age 8 through 18 (1972-1980). It was still playing in 1994 when I returned to London. It was for sale on the Organ Clearing House Website some time back. Don't know if it sold.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

From Springfield, OH.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab . Online update from Earl Green.
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Organ Case and Keydesk: Photograph (ca. 2006) from the Church Archives; image courtesy of Tim Wilson.

View of façade, case, and alcove: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Original Builder's Nameplate: Photograph by Louis Huffman. Taken on 2017-01-01

Pedalboard: Photograph by J.A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-08-25

None: Photograph by J.A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-08-25

Combination Action Trundles: Photograph by J.A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-08-25

Left Stop Jamb: Photograph by J.A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-08-25

Right Stop Jamb: Photograph by J.A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-08-25

Console and Pedalboard: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Organ alcove in sanctuary: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Church Exterior: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Organ in alcove: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Trackers (Swell in foreground and Great in background): Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Drawknob levers: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Pipes inside Organ: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16

Pipes inside Organ: Photograph by J. A. Hefner. Taken on 2017-09-16