Islington, Union Chapel

Union Chapel, Islington (3 manual, 37 stops)

This is a fine organ built by Willis in 1877, with minor alterations including the enclosure of the Choir Organ.

The organ has been fully restored, and the water engines have been brought back into service. The Choir enclosure was removed but the other alterations  have been retained.  All work has been done to strict restoration standards and we are producing photographic and written records.

Dismantling

Dismantling of the organ started on the 19th July 2012.

Scaffolding is erected ready for safe dismantling of the organ		Passage-ways across the scaffolding are assembled for safe transit of components.	Dismantling the organ
Pipework which needs repairing or renewing is taken out.		Console is dismantled	Vulnerable items are packaged carefully to prevent damage.
Pipes left need to be cleaned.

Console

Actions

This whole set of stickers was replaced by new ones of the same design.  Just one example of the many years of wear and tear taking its toll.

Pedal touch box before restoration.  T-squares were in a bad state of repair, some having been replaced to keep the organ playable.

Pedal touch box after restoration.  The damaged squares have been replaced with new of the same design, and the whole mechanism cleaned, repaired and releathered.

Barker Lever Machine before restoration.  Ribbed motors of the Barker Lever machine and Swell action being releathered with new ribs also.

Barker Lever Machine after restoration.  Some of the couplex valve mechanism releathered and nearing completion.  There are six layers of these valve mechanisms.

Swell touch box: showing the restored valve and lever mechanism back together.  Some of the action conveyancing is being re-glued in place.

Swell touch box intact and restored.  This shows only some of the conveyance in the organ, of which there are over 500 pieces.

Pallets in the Swell mechanism being re-fitted.

‘Black Lead’ on some of the stop action rods being renewed to ensure smooth running.

Soundboard & Chests

Pedal touchbox pallets	Pedal reeds soundboard being made	Great soundboard	soundboard
Pedal Open Wood chest	Tremulant

Pipework

Replacement of inapropriate loading with correct-and sympathetic loading in the Father Willis style	Pedal Ophicleide	Great Trumpet	Soldering on the gallows
Patching splits in wind groove of wooden pipe.

Wind System

Ribs of the feeder	Feeder being assembled	Leathering work	Feeder nearly completed
Ribs of concussion bellows	Staining ribs of concussion bellows	Assembling concussion bellows	Swell Flute concussion
Reservoir being assembled	Leathering the reservoir	Completed reservoir	Concussion cut off
Restoring rollerboard arm	Internal roller valve

Wigton organ (pre work)

St Mary’s Church, Wigton (2 manual, 13 stops)

Overhaul and releathering of actions.

Console

Console before overhaul

Work done

Stop knobs

Actions

Great action	Touchbox	Diaphragm machine

Soundboards & Chests

Round motors for Reed Bourdon chest	Diaphragm machine	Pedal Open Wood chest	Pedal Bourdon Chest

Pipework

Front pipes

Wind System

Great reservoir	Swell reservoir	Re-leathering the Swell reservoir