Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Charles (Karl) Besch (1938)

Originally Wm. A. Johnson (Opus 238, 1867)

Location:

First Presbyterian Church
Racine, WI US
Sanctuary; front
Organ ID: 72438

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Presbyterian Churches
  • The organ has been altered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is unknown.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.

Technical Details:

  • 32 ranks. 3 manuals.
Main:
  • Manuals: 3
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, AGO standard placement.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
We received the most recent update for this console from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.
Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023:

According to the current [2023] church website, "Our current organ was gifted to First Presbyterian by Helen Converse Johnson, dedicated in November 3, 1935, in memory of her husband, Herbert Fisk Johnson."

We received the most recent update for this note from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.
Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023:

According to RacinePost on Blogspot, several ranks were added in 1971.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.
Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023:

According to RacinePost on Blogspot, several ranks were added in 1971.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.
Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023:

This entry represents the electrification of the original 1867 Wm. A. Johnson organ. Unknown if it was on new chests, or original chests with E-P pull-downs. The casework was retained, but side wings were likely added at this time. The resulting organ was also now 3-manuals. Identified from the book: Johnson Organs, 1844-1898: Wm. A Johnson, Johnson Organ Co., Johnson & Son: a documentary issued in honor the two hundredth anniversary of his birth, 1816-2016 / by Scot L. Huntington, Len Levasseur, Barbara Owen, Stephen L. Pinel, and Martin R. Walsh. Cranbury, New Jersey: The Princeton Academy of the Arts, Culture, and Society, 2015.

We received the most recent update for this note from Jim Stettner on January 07, 2023.

Instrument Images:

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