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NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS AND DONORS
APRIL 2009
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FACADE, A WORK OF ART.
Since this is the most visible part of the organ, we pay tribute to
those who restored the facade last December.
With scaffolding and protective sheeting in place, Father and son
Richard and Brad Cotterill set to work with spraygun and a
special paint mix.
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Brad is seen mixing the paint and later, in white overalls, painting
the tops of the organ's 10 metre-tall metal pipes.
An expert eye and a head for heights are among the skills needed
for this exacting job.
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Richard Cotterill is checking for blemishes.
After painting the pipes, the pair cleaned and oiled the oak case
work.
BEHIND THE FACADE
Only when the 1970 organ was removed, could work on restoring
the interior of the organ loft begin. A moveable scaffold, as tall as
the loft, was installed so the walls and ceiling could be painted for
the first time in decades. Some parts got new paint for the first
time in 100 years!
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During the Town Hall's restoration in 1994, a new access to the
roof-space was created inside the organ. Its vertical ladders and
bridge, anchored to the rear wall are clearly seen in the photo.
These were removed to make way for the restored organ.
Roof access is now via the organ's integrated stairway and
passageways.
Pipes of the 32 foot OpenWood, the organ's largest pipes, are on
the right.
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GREEN PAINT - BROWN PAINT
The organ's original builders, Norman and Beard of London,
applied a dark brown paint to the wooden pipes, the supporting
structure and bellows.
During the alterations of 1970, the Auckland company, George
Croft and Sons, who carried out the work, painted many of the
wooden pipes in their signature green.
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Orgelbau Klais's current restoration takes all the woodwork back
to the original dark brown.
Stuart McCann,The Edge's representative on the project, lends a
hand with the paint roller. |
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FINAL SHIPMENT IMMINENT
At Orgelbau Klais in Germany almost 5000 pipes will soon be
packed into three containers for the journey to Auckland.
From August a team of organ builders will spend four months
installing and "voicing" them.
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Meanwhile the Town Hall goes about its usual business.
The shining woodwork and gleaming pipes of the organ facade are
the only outward signs of the huge restoration project.
FUTURE NEWSLETTERS will reveal more about New
Zealand's largest and most modern pipe organ. Next month, the
latest photos from Bonn.
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