We were hoping to have the organ playable for Pentecost, but it was not possible.  The big Pedal and Great reed pipes (which are on separate wind chests from the rest of the organ) operate on 6″ wind pressure (the rest of the organ is on 3″).  In order to achieve that, there has to be a separate bellows reservoir made and fitted which pushes out wind at 6″. That has taken a little longer to make than expected, but is now fitted, together with all the trunking that will take the wind to the relevant wind chests. This has, however, delayed the completion and fitting of the stop motor unit for the Great. Hopefully this week will see this completed and fitted, so that the whole organ can be connected up and “regulating” can begin.

“Regulating” is the tuning and voicing of all of the pipes so that they sound at their best in the building and all blend with each other in tune, which will probably take just over a week. In the meantime, work has started on making the linkage that will enable the swell box doors to open gradually at the press of a pedal. We will be re-using the mechanism from our old organ, but it will need to be adapted as the console will now face the pipes and be built in to the organ, rather than placed away from the pipes and sideways on, as used to be the case.

Back at home, I have now finished stripping all the old paint from the display pipes, buffed them up with wire wool and washed them, ready for spraying with special paint that looks like polished tin. Once that is done, I apply decorative gold leaf to the months.

While I wait for the pipes to be sprayed I will (i) be working on my garden (which has been badly neglected this year! and (ii) making some wooden inserts for six empty spaces on the front of the organ case, staining and polishing them, then fitting and gilding some decorative mouldings that will complete the casework scheme.