A pipe organ, like any other static item in a building, will – over time – collect substantial amounts of dust. Occasionally, larger bits of debris from works carried out to the building will also have made their way into the instrument. This build up of dust and debris will affect the way pipes speak and also create wear and tear when it works its way into the mechanisms. Reliability will be harmed in these instances.
Due to the delicate nature of organs and the specialised knowledge required to work on them, it is not quite so simple as giving them a once over with a vaccum cleaner. This is where South Coast Organs come in.
The Institute of British Organ Builders advise that a pipe organ receives a significant clean every 15 -25 years and a more major rebuild every 30-50 years. All the pipes are removed and thoroughly cleaned. Action parts are checked for wear and repaired, or replaced, where necessary. Fatigued leatherwork on motors and reservoirs is replaced. The organ’s console and casework receive aesthetic amelioration. In the more major overhauls soundboards and chests are removed for total refurbishment. This can include re-palleting and glue flooding to ensure longevity. On organs with electric action, tired magnets can be replaced and note switching systems installed/upgraded using the latest solid-state technology.
Please do contact us if you wish us to inspect an instrument and assess its condition. If you are not an exisiting customer then there might be a small charge for such an inspection to cover our costs. Existing customers will not be charged for such as we can often combine these visits with tuning.
Contact us:
Tuning, maintenance, cleaning, overhauls, restorations, rebuilds, and protective covering of organs. We also offer consultancy services on all aspects of church music, and can provide reports for insurance purposes. Please click here to explore the services we offer, Or, alternatively, contact us at enquiries@southcoastorgans.co.uk or by phone on 01983 294721 and 07854 448233