Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: organ
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: organ
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Historical and Technical Documentation by John Maidment
© OHTA (last updated May 2011)
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: organ
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: organ
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
This is a small student's practice organ no 9 made in London by Hill & Son for R.S. Stacey, of 257 Euston Road, London.1 The original cost was £100. It is not known how and when it arrived in Victoria. The instrument was installed in 1897 at All Saints' Anglican Church, Preston. The Pedal Bourdon 16ft may have been added to the organ at this time. It was replaced at Preston in 1949 by a new organ made by George Fincham & Sons Pty Ltd. It was then installed at the Methodist Church, Murrumbeena. At this time it is understood that the original Hill & Son facade pipes (presumably with rounded mouths) were replaced in zinc with bayleaf mouths. This may have been as a result of damage that took place when the pipes were removed to provide tuning access. The radiating-concave pedal board appears not to be original.
The instrument was purchased in 1976 by Dr William Ralph and was placed in two of his homes in Blackburn, Victoria, before being moved to Queensland in 1989. It was installed in its present location in 2000.
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: console
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: console
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: console sides
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
The casework , console fittings and bench are of oak, and the Hill & Son brass nameplate, drawstops and engraved labels have been retained. The Pierced Gamba has been replaced with Keraulophon pipes.
The casework has had an upper extension with fretted sections added that matches the style of the Hill casework admirably. This has been designed to be detachable so that the facade pipes can be easily removed for tuning.
| GREAT Open Diapason Lieblich Gedact Swell to Great SWELL Sw Pierced Gamba Sw Suabe Flute PEDAL Bourdon Great to Pedal |
8FT 8FT 8FT 4FT 16FT |
grooved bass grooved bass TC |
Compass: 56/30
Mechanical key and stop action
Lever swell pedal
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: drawstop engraving
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: oak bench
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
Residence of Dr W. Ralph, Mornington: lever swell pedal
[photograph by John Maidment (May 2011)]
1 British Organ Archive list of Hill & Son organs by job number (kindly supplied to John Maidment by David Wickens)