Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Carlton C. Michell (1894)

Location:

St. Luke's Episcopal Church
5421 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia: Germantown, PA 19144 US
Organ ID: 9033

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Episcopal and Anglican Churches
  • The organ has an unknown or unreported status.
  • The organ's condition is unknown.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on October 20, 2022.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Pneumatic
  • 43 ranks. 3 manuals.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Pneumatic 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 May 13, 2018.
Main:
  • Manuals: 3
  • Position: Keydesk attached.
  • Key Action: Tubular-pneumatic connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Tubular-pneumatic connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style without cover.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in vertical rows on angled jambs.
  • Combination Action: Adjustable combination pistons.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard meeting AGO Standards.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Tutti Reversible Toe Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Coupler Reversible Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Database Manager on May 07, 2018:
We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Database Manager on August 07, 2005:

Online update from Nathan Laube -- Tonally the organ seems to be intact (1894), however the 16' Posaune (Contra Basson) on the Swell has pipes stamped "Rec."...we suspect that rank may be a Casavant replacement dating from around the time that the present Casavant console was installed. The Great V Mixture, 16' Trombone, 8' Tromba, 4' Clarion, as well as the Echo division (8' Quintadena, 8' Echo Salicional, 4' Flute Octaviante, 8' Clarinet) are enclosed in a box, and the choir is unenclosed. The Unenclosed Great, Enclosed Great, Echo, Pedal Open Wood (32' 16' 8' 4') and Trombone (16' 8' 4') are located on the left side of the chancel with the Console. The Swell and Choir (unenclosed) as well as the Pedal Subbass (16' 8') and 8' Viola d'amour (in facade) are on the right side of the chancel. When the Casavant console was installed, the distribution of divisions over the manuals was changed. Now the Choir and the Echo play on Man. 1, Great on 2, Swell on 3. Formerly the Echo (enclosed with the Great) played on the Man. 2, so in essence the Great division was made up of three sub-divisions (I Unenclosed: 16' Bdn., 8' Principal Diapason, Small Diapason, Harmonic Flute, 4' Octave, 2 2/3' Octave-Quinte, 2' Super Octave; II Enclosed: V Mixture, 16' Trombone, 8' Tromba, 4' Clarion; and III Echo: 8' Quintadena, Echo Salicional, 4' Fl.Oct., 8' Clarinet, Tremolo.) The 4' extensions of the Open Wood and Trombone in the pedal are not original. The Tremolo that used to affect the Great is no longer there. The swell and choir divisions were "direct-electric-ed" by Wicks. The entire organ plays beautifully, though the stunning reeds and harmonic flutes are begging for restoration.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Status Note: There 1996

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

In collaboration with Cole & Woodberry. Rebuilt with electric action by James Cole 1921. Windchests replaced by Casavant 1955 (Op. 2304). Trompette en Chamade 8' added 1970. Windchests rebuilt by Wicks in 1992. Releathered by Patrick J. Murphy c. 2001.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Stoplist from <i>The Organ</i>, March 1893
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Chancel: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2015-08-25

Left Organ Case: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2015-08-25

Chancel and Right Organ Case: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2015-08-25

Church Exterior: Photograph by Jeff Scofield. Taken on 2016-06-28

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