Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2015

Restoration

Organ built by
Heinrich Aman, 1807
Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
mechanical
Inauguration
28.11.2015
Voicing
Gunter Böhme

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www.orgelbau.ch/ope=801630

Ebnat-Kappel

I/6

Switzerland, Saint Gall
Ackerhus

© pictures Orgelbau Kuhn AG, Männedorf/Schweiz

Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2015

Restoration

Organ built by
Heinrich Aman, 1807
Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
mechanical
Inauguration
28.11.2015
Voicing
Gunter Böhme

Toggenburger Chamber Organ

During the years 1750 to 1830, Toggenburger Chamber Organ Builders were at the height of their success. Individually, their most important organ builders were Wendelin Looser (1720-1790), his son Joseph Looser (1749-1822), Hans Melchior Grob (1754-1832) and Heinrich Aman (1763-1836) from Wildhaus, with Ulrich Ammann (1766-1842) from Alt St. Johann.

An inscription in the pallet box confirms the builder as being:

Heinrich Aman orgelmacher Heinrich Aman Organ Builder
in der gemeind Wildhaus in the parish of Wildhaus
im Togenburg, den 29. Juli 1807 Togenburg, 29 July 1807

The positive organ was found to be in a satisfyingly original condition. Its consequently high value as a historical monument is reinforced by the fact that it is one of the very few instruments by Heinrich Aman that have been preserved.

When restoring the organ we took pains to ensure that corrective action was kept to a minimum. Although the organ is set up in the Edelmann «Ackerhaus» Museum, the intention was, of course, to achieve a reliable degree of playability.

Priority would have to be given to careful repair of the metal pipes, restoring the windchest and updating the existing pin action. As anticipated, the demanding restoration of the windchest proved to be exceedingly difficult. Numerous cracks had to be made good with wood chips of the same wood, and some of the cracks in the grooved blocks of the front had to be stopped by casting with metal. This was the only way to restore a constant supply of wind to the pipes.

Unfortunately, when the pipes, with for the most part original pipe tops, were restored, the result was not well tempered. The nearest we found was the Vallotti temperament now used.

As regards the mechanical aspects, the organ was successfully restored and reconstructed to its proven original condition, thanks to the substance that had been preserved and the clear findings made on the instrument. In relation to the pipe material this basically also applies to the sound, whereby it is impossible to fully understand all changes carried out during its 200 plus years of existence. Cut-ups and treatment of languids remained unchanged. The same is true of the pitch of the organ (a = 420 Hz at 25° Celsius).


Translation: RS 2016


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www.orgelbau.ch/ope=801630