Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2004
Restoration
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=801310
III/P/45
Germany, Baden-Wurttemberg
Kath. Kirche St. Georg
A third way forward into the future
The restoration of this instrument, built in 1904 by Walcker of Ludwigsburg, Germany, was, in its conception, a very unusual project. Acoustically we were presented with an ideal situation - the pipework, apart from one or two exceptions, was original and in good condition. On the technical front, however, we were faced with a difficult task.
The instrument was originally fully pneumatically controlled. This has, however, one major drawback: due to the great distance between the console and the individual divisions of the organ there results a noticeable delay in attack at the pipes themselves. This is a considerable hindrance to the organist as it reduces the possibility of achieving satisfactory differentiation in articulation. In 1964 this problem was solved through the construction of an electric action. However, this system proved unreliable and, relatively speaking, short-lived.
Neither the renewal of the electric action nor a reconstruction of the pneumatic system were realistic prospects for us. Ultimately we reached our solution through a third option. From the console up to a point in close proximity to the wind chests we constructed a mechanical action. From this point on a specially designed connecting system linked this with the lead tubing of a pneumatic action. This synthesis resulted in an authentic attack, but at the same time a lightness and precision of touch for the player. Moreover, the mechanical action has a longer lifespan and is more economical than a fully pneumatic system.
The question as to whether a pneumatic organ can be as precise as its mechanical counterpart has now been answered by the 100-year-old Walcker organ with an emphatic yes!
The stop action, including crescendo and tutti controls, are once again pneumatic. There is, however, no need to forgo the comfort of a modern capture system: this is applied directly onto the stop shanks.
