On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 16:18:09 +0100, Paul Terry
wrote:

In message , Keith J
Chesworth writes

I'll pass on the Organ, that is now totally refurbished and I doubt if
there is much by records of the original one left.

Because of the size and fame of the instrument there are in fact quite
detailed records of the original organ. The company that carried out the
recent restoration has a brief history on their website at:

http://www.mander-organs.com/html/body_news.html

Prior to refurbishment is was driven by an electric compressor.

According to the above site, the 1871 instrument was indeed steam
powered:

The wind-pressure was raised by steam engines in the blowing
room below the organ, driving six feeders. The high pressure was
provided by two blowing cylinders, 2 feet in diameter, each
containing a piston with a travel of 2 feet that provided the
vacuum on the upward stroke and the 30-inch wind pressure on the
return stroke. The plant worked well, and only one of the three
tenderers for rebuilding the instrument fifty years later
proposed to replace it.

The low-pressure engine is currently dismantled (but complete) and
housed at the Science Museum's storage depot in Wroughton near Swindon.

There is a picture of the high-pressure double-beam engine at:
http://www.allypallyorgan.org.uk/Pictures.html

Whether or not these were driven off a feed from the central boiler
house I don't know.

That I didn't know, when I asked on site, no one had any info. Thanks
for that. The site dosen't say when the steam driving of the blowers
was done away with. Must ask some questions as I understood it that
was not being used in 1999. I think I must have first been involved
with the Hall about then. ISTR that the Organ strip out was in its
early stages when I first visited.

Must try and find out a bit more and see if I can visit the remains at
some time.

OK, sad, I love Windy Organ music, have several discs of the Blackpool
Organ etc and do post to vintage-engineering....ho hum

Keith J Chesworth
www.unseenlondon.co.uk
www.blackpooltram.co.uk
www.happysnapper.com
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