Albourne, Singing Hills Golf Course
Singing Hills Golf Course, Muddleswood Road, Albourne, Hassocks BN6 9EB
About
3/23 Wurlitzer
English Horn, Brass Trumpet, Tuba Horn, Style D Trumpet, Open Diapason, Tibia Clausa I, Tibia Clausa II, Clarinet, Kinura, Orchestral Oboe, Saxophone, Krumet, Gamba, Gamba Celeste, Viol D’Orchestre, Viol Celeste, Salicional, Salicional Celeste, Oboe Horn, Quintadena, Flute, Flute Celeste, Vox Humana + Upright Piano
Opus Number: Basis - 1840 plus additions
Current Transmission System: Solid State
Original UK Location: In Situ
Original UK Opening Date: 21st February 1999
History
c1998: Plans to drastically enlarge the existing 5 rank Wurlitzer were made. A console was custom built for the new installation by a local joiner Bob Hercock who made a replica of a Compton, which was installed with the illuminated surround and bench from the Regal Cinema in Old Kent Road. David Houlagte installed the 14 extra ranks of pipes and his own transmission system. Michael Maine drew up the stop list for the new console.
1999: On 21st February Michael Wooldridge first featured the Wurlitzer in an afternoon concert.
2000: in January Blackpool Tower Organist Phil Kelsall officially opened the Wurlitzer.
2002: Alan Baker and Michael Wooldridge moved all of the pipe chests, re-winding them in the process, and to created two new chambers, to house the various percussions. Four ranks were added; Viol D’Orchestre, Viol Celeste, Flue Celeste and a new Krumet made by Booths. A Yamaha Upright piano was also installed. Console stop list redesigned by Michael Wooldridge.
2003: Clark Wilson and John Struve carried out some tonal finishing on the Wurlitzer.
2011: Ed and Patti Zollman further improved the tonal finishing work.
Genealogy - By David Houlgate
English Horn – Wurlitzer - 16’ extension by Booth
Brass Trumpet – Wurlitzer
Tuba Horn - Christie
Style D Trumpet – Wurlitzer (Regal Colchester)
Open Diapason – Small Scale Wurlitzer
Tibia I – Wurlitzer (Regal Colchester)
Tibia II – Christie
Clarinet – Wurlitzer
Kinura – Morton
Orchestral Oboe – Wurlitzer
Saxophone – Wurlitzer
Krumet – Wurlitzer copy by Booth
Gamba – Unknown, Supplied by Bob Mayes
Gamba Celeste – Unknown, Supplied by Bob Mayes
Viole – Unknown, Supplied by Bob Mayes
Viole Celeste – Unknown, Supplied by Bob Mayes
Salicioanl – Wurlitzer (Regal Colchester)
Salicioanl Celeste – Wurlitzer
Oboe Horn – Church Rank re-voiced by Booth
Quintadena – Wurlitzer
Flute – Wurlitzer (Regal Colchester)
Flue Celeste – Wurlitzer
Vox Humana – Wurlitzer (Regal Colchester)
Barnsley, Astoria Centre
Unit 16a Metro Trading Centre - 154 Barugh Green Road, Barugh Green, Barnsley, S75 1JX
About
3/17 Compton
English Horn, Trumpet, Tuba, French Horn, Diapason, Tibia Clausa I, Tibia Clausa II, Saxophone, Clarinet, Krummet, Kinura, Oboe, Violoncello, Gamba, Gamba Celeste, Concert Flute, Vox Humana
A Number: 222
Current Transmission System: Uniflex
Original Location: Astoria Cinema, Purley
Initial Opening Date: 2nd April 1934
History
1935: The Astoria Cinema, Purley opened 2nd April 1934 with Robin Richmond at the Compton.
1974: The cinema closed for tripling and the organ was removed. It was Installed in the Civic Hall, Ballerup nr. East Kilbride in Scotland.
c1980: The Compton was moved to the City School in Sheffield to replace an earlier Compton destroyed by an arson attack.
c1980-2010: During its time at the school the Compton was enlarged to 15 ranks and an Upright Piano was also added.
2010: The Compton was removed from the school and sold to Kevin Grunill
2010-2016: Kevin Grunill restored the Compton to former glory and respecified it for 16 ranks.
2016: The Compton opened on 12th March with Kevin Grunill & Nigel Ogden.
Beer Congregational Church
6 Fore Street, Beer, Seaton, EX12 3JG
About
2/6 Wurlitzer
Style D Trumpet, Open Diapason, Tibia Clauasa, Salicional, Flute, Vox Humana
Opus Number: 956
Model: Style D
Current Transmission System: Solid State
Original Location: Picture House, Walsall
Original Opening Date: 26th January 1925
History
1925: The Picture House, Walsall opened on 26th January with Jack Courtney accompanying the film 'Claude Duval' starring Fay Compton and Nigel Barrie.
1955: Cinemascope was installed at the Picture House. Due to the extra space required to install all this new equipment the cinema sold the Wurlitzer to Allan Hickling, who installed it at his home - Dormston House in Sedgley. Installation was complete in time for christmas.
1957: Alan was looking for a larger Wurlitzer so sold the Wurlitzer to fellow enthusiast, Arthur Thorn of Beer in Devon. Plans were made and executed to have it installed at the Congregational Church in Beer. As it was intended that the organ was to be for church use, all of its cinematic effects & second touch were removed. The Sweetland Organ Company of Bath installed the Wurlitzer.
1987: The Wurlitzer had fallen into a state of disrepair. A couple of members of the Cinema Organ Society carried out what repairs they could to keep the Wurlitzer playing.
1998: The Wurlitzer was again becoming unreliable. Local organ builder Michael Farley was contracted to look after the instrument for the next few years.
2008-2010: It was decided to return the historic instrument to its former glory. A society was formed to raise funds to be able to achieve this. The Wurlitzer was soon in receipt of some of its missing percussion items. Since then a Wurlitzer shutter action has been installed to replace the mechanical system originally put into the church, the Second Touch facility has been reinstated, and most of the instrument has been rewired to replace the aged and failing original wiring.