Reconditioning >> Central Congregational Church, Newburyport, MA

Hook Organ, Opus 310, C: 1862

In 2005 Foley~Baker was awarded the contract to remove and completely recondition this very seasoned pipe organ. Its life had started 143 years earlier as a mechanical action instrument placed in the church’s rear gallery. In 1953, a major remodeling of the sanctuary saw the organ's chassis fitted with electro-pneumatic action and moved into new chambers on either side of the chancel. By the time of our survey in 2004, the chassis, console and pipes were all very tired. We removed every part of the instrument to our shops so the church’s contractors could erect scaffolding to repair, paint and light every chamber surface.

Photos by Mark Manring.

The organ’s slider chests were shipped to Organ Supply Industries, a firm with the special equipment and presses that assure each was properly retabled.  Every pipe was washed, repaired and voiced/regulated to be sure it spoke with all the authority it did when new in 1862. Our shop techs replaced every piece of leather be it pneumatic, gasket or bellows. The console was gutted to the shell and totally rebuilt including new manuals by P & S of the UK.  Its new electronic switching system, built by Classic of Markham Ontario, was installed and wired at our shops.

Upon reinstallation, the chassis was redistributed within the chambers to assure the best possible tonal egress and service access.  A new, 44 note, 16/8 pedal Bourdon was added.  The sanctuary’s acoustic is very bright assuring a most musical conclusion to this relatively modest sized organ.  Work took 11 months; the organ was up and playing for Christmas, 2005.