United Methodist Church

Ely, Minnesota

1922 Moller Pipe Organ

Newest updates are at the bottom

Last Updated 3/18/09

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This is the organ as it was originally installed.  The console was detached and the originaly tubular-pneumatic action was upgraded to electro-pneumatic by Moller some time in the 1950s.  We will be installing new electric action valves to replace the failing Moller wind chest action, updating the console to solid-state electronic switching, and cleaning the entire instrument.  It consists of 5 ranks of pipes.  Diapason, Stopped Flute, Melodia, Dulciana, and Bourdon.   All the original pipes will be retained.

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2/20/09

This is the organ today, prior to removal of the internal parts.

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The central portion of the facade pipes has been removed to allow the parts in need of restoration to be taken out of the case.  The small pipes in the center are the 8' Diapason rank.  The largest pipes of this rank are in the central section of the facade.  About half of the facade pipes are non-speaking.

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The swell box as well as most of the pipes have been removed.  The pipes are stored in the cardboard trays on the left.  Once the windchest has been removed the facade and case will be put back up while we work on the parts at the shop.

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2/23/09

This is the console in its original condition.  All of the old machinery will be removed and replaced by a solid-state electronic control system which will operate the existing pipes.

This is the back of the console showing all of the old machinery.

Here is the console after the removal of all the old machinery.  You can see all the old parts in a pile behind the console on the right hand side.

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2/27/09

This is the new stop tab rail.  The new stop tabs will be installed in the horizontal slots in the middle.  Transposer, memory level control, and crescendo indicator will be installed in the other holes.  A digital clock will also be installed in the organ to replace the old one.

The new tablet board test fit to the console.  The manual keyboards have also been rebuilt with new springs and front regulating screws.

This is one of two new contact rails in the organ.  The wood parts on the left are the back ends of the keys.  The keys lift the black and white objects which in turn make contact wtih the silver contact wires.

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3/5/09

The console is complete with the exception of the new clock which is still on order.

This is the back of the updated console.  The row of devices at the top is the machinery behind the stop tabs.  The circuit boards at the bottom take the impulses from the stops and keys and translate them into serial data for transmission to the organ pipes via ethernet cable.

The next step is the installation of new actions and valves in the windchests.  Check back soon for more pictures.

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3/11/09

This is the toeboard (upside down) for the 16' Bourdon offset chest.  The new valve units have been installed.  The large square units are for the biggest pipes.  The smaller metal units are for the smaller pipes.

Here is the main windchest with the new electric valves installed.  These valves replace hundreds of leather pouches, wood channels, and myriad intricate parts with a simple all in one unit with only one moving part.

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3/15/09

Installation is now ready to begin.  Check back soon for more pics.

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3/16/09

Installation has begun. 

This is the main windhchest ready for installation.

The bass offset and bass pipes have been installed.  The main windchest has also been installed but is not visible in this picture.

The swell box has been assembled on top of the main windchest.

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4/20/09

Installation is now complete with the organ looking the way it did prior to the project but it is now fully funtional with a new expanded stoplist, memory system, and transposer.