[rodgersorgan] Keith's Pipe Organ

I know this isn't a Rodgers thing, but I'm really excited.  I play a Rodgers 
702 at church.  Ever since I was around 10, I've been fascinated by the pipe 
organ.  Unlike the purists, I would rather play a fine electronic like a 
Rodgers than a lousy pipe organ.

My dreams recently came true.  A pipe organ became available in Gainesville 
Florida (about 6 hours from me).  It definitely needs work.  I posted the 
long story about it on Pipechat.org and Diyapason website.  I'm a little worn 
out right now after spending the two days packing and moving.  In a couple 
weeks, I hope to get started on reconditioning it.

Below is the spec for your enjoyment.

The organ is Austin's Opus 1440 originally installed in The Church of the 
Holy Comfortor in Sumter, SC in 1926.  Kimberly Austin was kind enough to 
send me a copy of the original contract.  The organ was installed on their 73 
note Universal Windchest.  The scalings are what's penciled in on the 
contract.  The pressure is 5"

Great:
8' Open diapason (40 scale)
8' Melodia (usual scale)
8' Viola  (55 scale)
8' Dulciana (55 scale)
4' Harmonic flute (#3)

Swell:
*8' Melodia  (from great)
*8' Viola  (from great)
*8' Dulciana  (from great)
8' Stopped flute 
8' Oboe (usual scale)
8' Aeoline (61 scale)
4' Harmonic flute (from great)
Tremolo

Pedal
16' Bourdon (12 pipes)
8' Gedeckt (borrowed)

Some time in the '60s, the church traded the 8' open diapason for an 8' 
Geigen Diapason and a 4' Octave (labelled "double diap").

In 1972, the organ was offered for sale and purchased by Dr. Franklin Doty 
(Dean emeritus, University in Gainesville).  With the organ, I received a 
thick file with all his correspondance with Austin, Durst, and Klann.

He did not remove the universal chest, but he did take the original blower, 
pipes, and console.  He had two 61 note Durst pitman chests built - a 3 rank 
for Swell and a 5 rank for Great - plus a Klann unit chest for the Stopped 
Flute (in order to unify it to play a several pitches) and a Klann 12 note 
chest for the pedal Bourdon.  He installed these chests along two walls of 
his two car garage, leaving space for his vehicle in the center.  The console 
was on another wall.

A few years later he acquired a Vox Humana from a church in Augusta, Georgia 
(a Vox-in-a-box).  From his file, I glean that he priced out a 37 note 
Mixture III for the great, but, along with a new chest, was too costly.  He 
decided to order another unit chest and moved the 4' Octave from the great 
chest to the unit chest, purchased a top octave of pipes and unified the rank 
to play at several pitches including the derived mixture.  As best I can 
tell, he ordered an additional regulator in order to reduce the wind pressure 
for the Vox Humana and Stopped Flute to 3".

Presently, the disposition of the organ is:

Great:
8' Geigen diapason
8' Melodia
8' Dulciana
4' Harmonic Flute
Empty space on chest
4' Octave - on unit chest and unified to several pitches

Swell:
8' Aeoline
4' Viol (originally was 8'. Upon others' advice, he moved it to the 4' pitch 
when the chest was built).
8' Oboe
8' Stopped flute - on unit chest and unified to several pitches

Pedal
32' Resultant
16' Bourdon
8' Gedeckt
4' Gedeckt.

Dr. Doty passed away a few years ago.  A young neighbor who cared for him 
during his last years received the house (along with the organ) upon Dr. 
Doty's death.  The organ had not been played for several years.  Many notes 
would not play.  Mud daubers had set up housekeeping in many of the open 
pipes.  I vacuumed loads of mouse poop out of the console before loading it 
onto the truck.  In fact, as I opened up the truck upon arrival home, there 
was the faint odor of urine in the truck.  As I vacuumed the tops of the 
chests before loading, sweat would drip down and form mud.

I will be installing it in a corner of the storage area of my basement.  I 
have a 10 foot ceiling with an additional 10" of height between floor joists. 
 When I get my strength back, I will start working on the chests and cleaning 
the pipes.  I will have the oboe professionally cleaned.

I feel like a 6 year old who's just been given a large Erector Set - but 
who's really only on a Tinker Toys level.  I hope y'all will be patient with 
me.  As I said in my previous posting, several people were very helpful a few 
years ago when I was on pipechat.  I see that a few professionals like Rich 
Schneider are still active in providing advice and encouragement to the 
amateurs.

Sincerely,
Keith Zimmerman



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