PLATES | |
1a & b | Position of the organ in the Albert Hall |
2 | Historical note on the organ console |
3 | Historical note from the Great pallet chest |
4 | Rear view of left stop jamb |
Pipework | |
5 | General view of Choir pipework |
6 | General view of Swell pipework |
7 | Great Principals 8, 4, 2-2/3, 2 |
8 | Great Mixture 5 Ranks |
9 | Swell Mixture 4 Ranks |
10 | Shape of stoppers in metal Gedacts |
11 | Great metal Gedacts |
12 | Choir metal Gedacts |
13 | Great Open Diapason, Gamba and Choir Dulciana |
14 | Stopper shapes in wooden pipes |
15 | Mouths of wooden pipes |
16 | Swell Clarion and Oboe |
Action | |
17 | Shape of squares |
18 | Shape of backfalls |
Soundboards | |
19 | Split relief pallets for Swell soundboard |
Wind Supply | |
20 | Hydraulic engine |
21 | Nameplate on hydraulic engine |
22 | Generators |
Console | |
23 | General view of console (dismantled) |
24 | Style of lettering on stop labels |
25 | Style of lettering on stop labels |
26 | Style of lettering on stop labels |
27 | Style of lettering on stop labels |
28 | Style of lettering on stop labels |
29 | Shape of stop head |
30 | Keyboard |
31 | Keyboard cheeks and key arcades |
32 | Base of gas light fitting |
33 | Composition pedals |
34 | Console control for hydraulic engine |
35 | Organ bench |
Case | |
36 | Decorations on display pipes |
37 | Decorations on display pipes (tops) |
38 | Shape of display pipemouths |
39 | Moulding profile of impost |
FIGURES | |
1 | Scaling curves for the Great Principal ranks |
2 | Scaling curves for the Great and Swell Mixtures |
3 | Scaling curves for the metal Gedacts, Narrow- scaled ranks and Flute ranks |
4 | Sketch of key action |
5 | Plan view of soundboard placement |
6 | Order of stopknobs |
7 | Shape of stop head |
8 | Dimensions of Pedal-board |
9 | Shape of keyboard cheeks |
10 | Cross-sectional diagram of organ through cl |
Address: Tamar Street, Launceston, Tasmania
General details
During the investigation period, the Albert Hall was in the process of restoration. This made the measuring of the building for size, acoustics, etc., impossible. The original building in which the organ was placed, namely the Mechanics' Institute, was demolished several years ago.[1]
Position of the organ
The organ is sited behind the stage of the Albert Hall. Plates 1 a&b Only time will tell whether this position is favourable to the egress of sound from the organ in the restored hall.
Climatic conditions and heating
The interior of the Albert Hall remains cool, even on a hot day. While this is most favourable for the well-being of the organ, any proposed future installation of central heating will have to be considered in regard to its affect on the organ.
General condition
During the investigation period, the organ was being cleaned and repaired. The following refers to the condition of the various components in the dismantled state.
a. Pipework
Although the metal pipework has always been cone tuned, it is in relatively good condition. A great deal of it has been stolen in the past, particularly from the Choir division.
Due to lack of use in recent years, dust is present in the pipework in enormous quantities. Most of the smaller pipes do not sound at all until the dust is blown out. One is surprised to know that the organ made any sounds whatever prior to its recent dismantling.
b. Action
This has been rebushed and refelted, and should function quite satisfactorily, so long as no new friction points are introduced.
c. Soundboards
These can only be tested for runnings and murmurings once the organ has been re-erected.
d. Wind supply
The hydraulic blowing apparatus has been excellently repaired, and the double-rise bellows has been releathered. This entire section of the organ now functions perfectly.
e. Console
Several stop labels are missing, and the keys are in the process of being recovered. The music desk assembly will need to be repaired, as is also the case with the badly-made pedal-board (which isn't original) .
Case
Apart from dust removal and a light repolishing of the casework, no other work should be required here.
Current maintenance
The organ is being cleaned and repaired by Mr. Keith Davis.
1859: Organ built by Charles Brindley of Sheffield, England . 2
1860; Installed in the public Hall of the Mechanics' Institute Launceston.[3] Plate 2
1890: Presented to the Municipal Council, Launceston.[4]
1891: Installed in the Albert Hall, Launceston, opened 10th March 1891.[5] The organ had been "rebuilt" by Thomas Matanle, a former employee of "Foster (sic)& Andrews", and at that time in the employ of Fincham & Hobday. Plate 3
1906: A new pedal-board supplied by Geo. Fincham & Sons.[6]
a. Pipework
All pipework is original, with the exception of the top octave of the Choir Leiblich F1öte 4 ft, which is made up of Fincham pipes labelled "Har Fl", and C - B of the Swell Double Diapason 16 ft., which is a later addition.
b. Soundboards
These are entirely original except for the split relief pallets on the Great and Swell which were added in 1890/9l.[8]
c. Action
When the organ was moved to the Albert Hall, the internal layout was altered somewhat. [9] This means that the present key action dates from 1890/91. The arrangements of stopknobs was also altered at some stage, probably 1890/91 -Plate 4 , which would require an alteration in the stop action. The same applies to the composition pedals, which were originally situated to the sides of the pedal-board, but which are now more conventionally placed in front of the pedalboard.
d. Wind supply
The Melvin hydraulic engine was supplied in 1890/91 by Fincham & Hobday who were agents for that make of engine. [10]
e. Console
Except for the rearrangements already mentioned above, all console fittings such as stopknobs, stop labels, keyboards, keyboard cheeks etc., are original.
f. Case
This dates from the 1890/91 "rebuild" of the organ." It would be interesting to know if the original organ had a case or not.
g. Swell box
This is original Brindley.
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCEThis is one of the most historically important instruments in Australia, for the following reasons:
The pedal couplers operate by means of the usual backfall arrangements, and the Swell to Great coupler action is by means of intruding fingers.
Materials of key action: wood throughout.
Order of Channels | Great Chromatic |
Swell Chromatic |
Choir Chromatic |
Pedal Chromatic |
||
Placement (distance from floor to bottom of chest) |
1.96 m | 2.9 m | 0.88 m | - | ||
Width of soundboard | 3.38 m | 2.55 m | 2.74 m | C-A# 2.7 m |
B-f1 1.83 m |
|
Depth of soundboard | 1.09 m | 84.5 cm | 67 cm | 84.5 cm | 85 cm | |
Height of pallet chest | 146 mm | 124 mm | 124 mm | 123 mm | 124 mm | |
Depth of pallet chest | 486 mm | 450 mm | 334 mm | 450 mm | 440 mm | |
Height of note channels | 77 mm | 65 mm | 55 mm | 70 mm | 73 mm | |
Thickness of base board | 9 mm | 5 mm | 6.5 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | |
Thickness of sliders | 7 mm | 2.5 mm | 4 mm | 3 mm | 5 mm | |
Thickness of upper board | 35 mm | 33 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm | 34 mm | |
Type of pallets | Split relief (double) | Split relief (double) | Simple | Simple | Simple |
|
|
|
|
Great | Swell | Choir | Pedal B-f1 |
Pedal C-A# |
|
Bearer Rank 1 Bearer Rank2 Bearer Rank 3 Bearer Rank 4 Bearer Rank 5 Bearer Rank6 Bearer Rank 7 Bearer Rank8 Bearer Rank 9 Bearer Rank 10 Bearer |
38 62 65 32 18 30 43 38 18 58 45 76 43 58 26 71 52 112 77 97 44 |
44 55 45 55 20 54 57 63 43 48 44 44 30 68 50 76 47 |
20 47 29 44 71 40 45 22 50 74 76 31 34 34 17 |
20 50 71 65 132 97 164 201 48 |
24 47 67 67 135 95 156 169 86 |
Dimensions of bellows: 1.81 m x 3.4 m
Height of bellows well: 21.5 cm
Bellows weights consist of iron blocks with no inscriptions.
No Tremulant or concussion bellows present.
Internal cross-section | Thicknes of timber | |
To Great | 35 cm x 12.5 cm | 12 mm |
To Swell | 29.5 cm x 10 cm | 12 mm |
To Choir | 23.5 cm x 9 cm | 12 mm |
To Pedal | 23 cm x 9 cm | 30 mm |
Safety valves: two small pull-up valves.
P. G. Andersen: Organ Building & Design, Allen & Unwin, l969 W. Supper et. al.: Richtlinien am Schutze alter wertvoller Orgeln, Verlag Merseburger, 1958 E. N. Matthews: Colonial organs and Organbuilders, M.U.P., l969 BIOS Journal Volume I Ed. Michael Sayer Positif Press 1977 John Stiller: "Adaptation of the Weilheimer Regulativ to Australian Conditions", OHTA News, January 1979 E.N. Matthews: Historical Research from Fincham records. Launceston City Council Minute Books.