This organ restoration began in January 2023.

Here are the specifications of this organ:

Case Style M
Action 14
Ranks of Reeds: 4 plus Sub-bass
Number of Reeds: 257
Pitch: Estimate A452
Approximate Date of Manufacture: 1910-1920
Solid Quarter-sawn white oak
Chapel Model

Pedals removed and ready for stripping

Frames removed. Carpet to be stripped.

Pedal Frames will be cleaned and painted

Dreadful glue residue on the pedal boards

Bellows roller mechanism removed and ready for refurbishing

A simple piece to prevent the pedals moving when the hand pump us used

The great pedal ready for refurbishment

New replacement wooden casters

The great pedal reinstalled

The hand pumping mechanism was refurbished

Pedals reinstalled with new carpet

New pump handle installed

The bass side of the upper action

The Vox Jubilante mechanism and qualifying tubes

Part of the swell mechanism looking filthy

Subbase linkage unit

Underside of the keyboard

Dreadfully filthy coupler mechanism

Mute iron work fairly rusty

The stop board had woodworm, was filthy, and missing stop labels

Stop assembly filthy and needing complete rebuild

Some cleaned reeds. Note the odd one out

Reed pan cleaned down and resealed with reedbed felt

Reeds going back into their cells

A newly re-covered pallet valve. New felt, new leather

Pallet valves going back into place

Original relief valve on the right. Two new on left

One relief valve back in place

Mutes with new leather

Full set of replacement brass rear key-guide pins

A newly made replacement backing for the bellows gauge

Keys getting new bushing

Under key coupler buttons cleaned, glued, and new felt

Keys sporting new bushing

A rebushed key going backing place

Full set of new brass front key-guide pins in place

Close up of new key bushing

Refurbished Vox Jubilante back in place

All keys were cleaned and polished

Vox Jubilante fan

Sub-bass linkage with new leather nut

Sub-bass linkage in place

The organ required one of the more extensive restorations I have done. It had been left in very damp conditions leaving it prone to woodworm and loosened joints. It was missing the entire keyslip. It was covered in birds droppings.

There was only one approach to be taken and that was the entire strip down of the organ and rebuild from the bottom up.

The case finish and case repairs were undertaken by John Kenny of Breffni Restorations. This also included repairs to the trellis work on the back of the organ. The old finish was completely stripped off and the case French polished.

The keyslip was reproduced by Rodney Jantzi, Ontario, Canada. Rodney sourced an original identical organ in Canada and very carefully and with great skill replicated it exactly as it was.

The missing pump handle was made by Noel McGaugharan or Arva, Co. Cavan.