Newsletter for Friends and Donors

January 2009

January is a very significant month for the Town Hall Organ Restoration project.

On the morning of January 5, the first of four 40 foot containers from Germany was opened to reveal the first parts of the restored organ. Within 48 hours teams from Orgelbau Klais and The Edge had the contents of all containers spread over the entire floor of the Town Hall. This giant 'jigsaw' awaiting assembly had many wondering if it would all fit behind the organ facade.  With all parts numbered and with highly detailed plans, the organ builders set about installing this King of Instruments.

In the weeks before the arrival of the team from Germany,The Edge and the City Council engaged specialist painters and polishers to restore the organ's facade. Following a thorough clean, the pipes were spray painted with a lacquer mixed with colour toner, rust inhibitor and fine aluminium particles. Next, the oak casework was cleaned, and polished with Danish Oil. The result is quite breathtaking. The interior of the organ loft was also painted from top to bottom - the first time in a hundred years.

The Pictures:
1. The facade sheathed in protective film during restoration.
2. A head for heights - the spray painter at work.
3. The first container is opened.
4. The new playing console is carefully wheeled in.
5. The Town Hall is filled with organ parts.
6. Building frame and wind reservoirs - the early stages.
7. Klais organ builder and Project Leader Thomas von Heymann plans a day's work.
8. The new 32 foot Posaune on its journey to the rear of the organ.
9. The City Council's Manager, Partnerships and Funding, Leigh Redshaw, inspects the demonstration organ.
10.One of the organ's three huge blowers is wired up in the Town Hall's basement.
11.Framework for the organ's third level on the way up!

The organ builders will work from daylight to dusk - possibly beyond, until the middle of February to complete this, the first stage of the installation - the organ's mechanism and largest pipes.