Organ Rescuers in Alabama? Headed to the dump...............

[WannaBe]

Saw this organ on craigslist in Morgan City, AL... it's listed as $500, but guy said he'd give it for free. If it doesn't go soon, it's headed to the dump.

I live in AR, but will be down that way in a few weeks. Is this a decent organ?? Thoughts?? I'm looking for a hymn-player, so I don't know if this is realllly something that would fit my bill. Plus I'd have to transport it back on a trailer.

https://huntsville.craigslist.org/fo...823159726.html

[WannaBe]

[afuller5]

WannaBe,

Others have more knowledge on this than I do, but I'll tell you what I know.

This was the theatre console version of the Wurlitzer 4500 which was made about 1965. There were three variations at the time:

• 4500 home-style console
• 4502 church-style console with locking lid. The traps (drums) were removed and the red and yellow tabs were changed to white. The String 8' on the pedal was changed to Octave 8'. I played one of these for about 10 years at my church.
• 4520 theatre-style console. This is the one in your photos. This model is also fairly rare as compared to the 4500 and 4502.

All of these organs basically had the same sound that was based on theatre and/or home use. However, with the Spectra-Tone (Wurtlizer's version of a rotating/Leslie speaker) on cathedral and without vibrato, the organ can produce somewhat pipe-like sounds for hymns. If you are going more for a Hammond sound for hymns, the Spectra-Tone should be on normal or fast. (I can't remember the exact term they used.) However, it will not sound like a Hammond.

Here is the stop list as I recall it.

• Upper: Solo 16', Tibia 16', Trombone 16', Clarinet 16', Solo 8', Flute 8', Diapason 8', String 8', Clarinet 8', Oboe-Trumpet-Kinura Accent, Oboe 8', Trumpet 8' Kinura 8', Solo 5 1/3', Quint 5 1/3', Solo 4', Clarinet 4'. The underlined stops can be coupled with the following upper-to-upper couplers: 16', unison off, 4', and 2'. There is also upper sustain with four lengths. (Note that the Solo tabs and Accent tab increase the volume of those stops.)
• Lower: Volume Full, Solo 8', Melodia 8', Geigen Diapason 8', Viole 8', Trombone 8', Cornet 8', Vox Humana 8', Solo 5 1/3', Quint 5 1/3'. The underlined stops can be coupled using a lower-to-lower 4' coupler. There is also a chimes tab that only works from middle C up to F, for an octave and a half of chimes. There is also one level of sustain.
• Pedal: Pedal Soft, Pedal Medium, Pedal Loud, Bourdon 16', Principal 16', Flute 8', String 8'. Two levels of sustain.

I am only familiar with the church-model and do not know about the traps/drums.

As with any organ of this age, there are bound to be issues with with organ. Morelock's in Mississippi still has parts for the organ and certain parts can be sent for them to repair if needed. (I'm not a tech.) Even though the organ is rare, it is not very valuable and free is the right price. Any repairs will cost more than the instrument is worth. Also, there may well be inexpensive used Allen, Rodgers, etc. classical organs available that are better suited for hymn playing.

I hope you find this information useful and/or interesting.

Later,
Allen

P.S. Please excuse any typos.

[WannaBe]

afuller5 ... thanks. I wasn't really considering getting it considering the size, distance, and lack of specifications. Was just making sure it wasn't some diamond headed for the dung heap :)

[toodles]

It's a home organ type specification. To be honest, I can't recommend it for classical work, though there are a few registrations that are OK for that purpose. The 4500 version is a better model in my opinion for the simple fact that it has a couple of pistons for the upper and lower keyboards--not great, but something.

A Conn or Baldwin of that era has a better classical sound, if one of their church models.

[myorgan]

Try contacting the Alabama Theatre regarding the organ (https://alabamatheatre.com/). The local theatre organ society may have members interested in the organ (http://www.alabamatheatreorgan.com/index.html).

Michael

[WannaBe]

myorgan done! Good idea:-)

[james]

I once had the Wurlitzer 4300 spinet which was the same specifications as listed on here. For playing hymns it would be just fine since you do have couplers for the upper pitches on each manual. The Spectra-tone speakers have a tab labeled Cathedral organ which does provide a nice pipe-like tone to a Diapason chorus or any flute tones. Other stops can be added as you wish to the ensemble.

James

[WannaBe]

It looks similar to the Allen Theatre Compact (1963)... are they similar?

[toodles]

Not very similar at all to the Theatre Compact--the Wurlitzer is what was usually called a "console" model, 61 note manuals, 25 note pedalboard. The Allen Theatre Compact was a spinet with 44 note keyboards, and 13 pedals. Allen was based on individual oscillators using keyed oscillators, and the Wurlitzer is a frequency divider organ with a combination of direct keying and electronic keying. Totally different sound profile.

[james]

That Allen was all flute tones with the set of oscillators such as Hammond had the tone wheels making their flute tones.

James