Chest Construction and Organ Removal

Our last post showed the bench under construction. Here is the completed bench, ready to be sanded and finished:

The main windchests for the organ are now taking shape as well. The toeboard blanks shown in the last post have been cut, drilled, burned, sanded, and finished for the Choir division:

And the Choir action board is marked and drilled:

The action board will next be attached to the chest frame, sanded and finished, and be fitted with actions for each pipe.

On site, we will be beginning removal of the existing organ case in early January. Just this week the present organ received what will probably be its final tuning. Here are some more pictures of the current instrument:

The organ's powerful 16' pedal reed has been removed and is currently being reconditioned for use in the new organ.

Walsh Organs has already supplied the organ with a new Great Division several years ago, which will also be reused in the new organ, however the present Great Principal chorus is being moved into the Swell, and the new organ will feature a of new chorus, based on a 16' Violone (in the façade) and 8' Diapason.

Chest and Console Construction Underway in the Shop

Following our client meeting in August, and having received the lumber for the project, wood milling and construction of the console, main chests and reservoirs is coming along in the shop.

The 2" thick poplar will be used to make glue-ups for toeboard blanks. The organ's pipework will stand atop these toeboards.

Michael shows the finished glue-ups. Once the chests are built, the toeboards will be cut to length and width out of these blanks, drilled, sanded, and finished.

Also going through the woodshop right now is St. Elizabeth's new Console. Poplar and Mahogany stock is milled for the console frame, body, and interior, and the new Mahogany bench. Here, Adam is at work on the bench frame and top.

First Client Meeting

Back in August we had our first meeting with St. Elizabeth's Organist, Director of Music, Choir Director, and Rector. Following finalization of the façade layout,we reviewed our plans for the organ, had a shop tour, and made a trip to The Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli, PA, where we recently installed a new 4-manual console and antiphonal organ.

We also discussed material and finish options for the console, casework, and manual and pedal keyboards. We are pleased to announce that St. E's has opted to have the console and case built of Mahogany. This organ is going to be as striking visually as it will be tonally.

1000 Board Feet of Mahogany in our wood room:

The plan for St. E's Façade, which includes portions of the Great Diapason and Violone:

Welcome to the blog for St E's New Organ

St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Parish in Wilmington, Delaware, has chosen our firm, C.M. Walsh Pipe Organs, to build a new, three-manual, 58-stop pipe organ in the church's rear gallery. We are very excited about this project, and are currently planning and beginning construction in our workshops in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.

Above you can see a digital rendering of the new organ, which will feature a case and matching console of white oak. Below is a picture of the existing organ.

We will be using this blog throughout the course of the project to provide (approximately) biweekly updates on our progress.

Thanks for visiting, and come back soon.

You can find out more about us at our website.