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Our restoration of this instrument offered several challenges, not the least of which was our concern to keep within the budget of Old South Haven’s Organ Committee. While perfectly at home in our approach to restoration, we were mindful of Conservation issues from the outset: the organ had been appreciably altered since being moved from its original location at the Dutch Reformed Church of West Sayville, New York. Alterations included severe modifications to the organ façade in order to fit into the gallery in Brookhaven, as well as the total removal of the original mechanical pedal action. We made clear in our proposals that we were reticent to alter the organ any further, but knew our work had to return the organ to service as a dependable instrument, while at the same time doing whatever we could to bring out the best of the organ’s modest tonal resources. Disturbed by the “cut off” appearance of the organ façade, our sole suggested alteration was modification to the organ facade, which at the time of Contract the Organ Committee was regrettably forced to forego due to their limited budget. Thankfully Mann and Trupiano had already undertaken some restorative work in the early 1990s: the Great windchest had been overhauled and re-tabled. In examining the organ we were surprised to find short tracker runs for both manual divisions (similar small instruments often have backfalls). In Mann and Trupiano’s work these Great trackers were replaced, and the Great Dulciana 8’ removed in favor of a Principal 4’, though the stop remained tenor C compass, sharing a common bass with the Melodia 8’. We had considered the possibility of reversing this alteration, but in consultation with the Organ Committee ultimately decided against it. Since substantial work had also been done on the keyrows, in our restoration we were free to concentrate the remaining portions of the action: stickers, squares, couplers and Swell trackers, all of which we rebuilt, rebushed or replaced where necessary. In August of 2006 we dismantled the organ and brought it to our shop in East Hampton. Our plan was direct: cleaning, overhaul of the Swell windchest (pallets redressed, table repairs), complete restoration of the extant manual and pedal key action, an entirely new electro-pneumatic windchest, switching and wind system for the Pedal Bourdon, and total restoration of all pipework. At this time the Organ Committee advised us that a private donor had stepped forward with funds to be used to address the organ’s cosmetic issues. | Next Page | |
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