Opus 1419 is the designation of a Style H Sp. 2 Manual, 10 rank theater pipe organ made by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Organ Co. of North Tonawanda, New York. It was completed in August of 1926 and installed in the Apollo Theater at 126 Clinton Street, New York, NY and first played on 1 October 1926. The instrument was unused for 20 or so years and was removed from the theater in the mid 60's, winding up in Mesa Arizona. Over the next 6 years the instrument was refurbished including rebuilding and re-leathering. Some components were either rebuilt or replaced with authentic Wurlitzer parts or replicas. On installation in a Mesa home minor changes and additions were made which are considered to be improvements. When the restoration was completed the chest wiring is complete with many multi-pin connectors making this close to Plug and Play! These changes include but are not limited to the following:
(1.) Seventeen new stop tabs were added to the console back rail.
(2.) One rank of pipes (Post Horn, 61 notes) with single rank chest.
(3.) Three additional small regulators.
(4.) Two additional Tremulants.
(5.) Numerous other stop tabs of the original were re-designated to conform to modern day organist preferences.
(6.) The relay was replaced with a similar item from a Wurlitzer 3 manual organ because it had additional space for the added stop tabs. Ron Rhode recorded his album, "Wake Up and Live" on Opus 1419.
Following is a list of principal parts:
(1.) A Two manual console (each manual with 61 keys) with 32 note pedal board and music rack.
(2.) A five rank Solo chest = Kinura, 61 pipes; Tuba, 73p (one very small pipe missing); Tibia, 85p; Oboe, 61p; Vox, 61p.
(3.) A five rank Main chest = Flute, 97p; Violin, 73p; Diapason, 85p; Violin Celeste, 73p; Clarinet, 61p.
(4.) A single rank chest = Post Horn, 61p.
(5.) Two sets of Swell Shades approx. 6' x 8' each.
(6.) One 12-note Flute offset chest.
(7.) Two 6-note Flute offset chest.
(8.) One 7-note Diapason Offset chest.
(9.) Two 12-note String Offset chests.
(10.) One 12 note Diaphone (Diapason) offset chest.
(11.) Two 12 note Tibia offset chest. (One very small)
(12.) One 14 note Tuba offset chest.
(13.) Two Toy Counter sections.
(14.) Four Tuned Percussions, Xylophone, Chimes, Chrysoglott and Glockenspiel.
(15.) One Relay with two Switch Stacks.
(16.) One Winker regulator for relay.
(17.) One Wind Trunk with two small regulators.
(18.) One Wind Trunk with one medium and one small regulator.
(19.) One Wind Trunk with one large and one small regulator.
(20.) One Wind Trunk with three small regulators.
(21.) Four small Tremulants.
(22.) Two large Tremulants.
(23.) One 12 volt Power supply with Trap relay. (Home made)
(24.) One 220 volt single-phase 5-horse power Spencer Blower with power contactor.
(25.) Eleven ranks of pipes total.
The organ is g-r-o-w-i-n-g!
In the anticipation that WurliTzer Opus #1419 will one day make its home in the Parkway, some exciting additions are being made to its current specification. Chief among these is the acquisition of a four manual console that will serve not only the present pipe compliment, but also any future size the organ is likely to attain.
Also recently acquired is the bottom octave of a powerful 16' diaphone rank. The tones produced by these pipes are as much seismic in character as they are musical. Not only will the Parkway's productions entertain you, you can get a sonic massage at the same time!
Finally, but certainly not least, is the acquisition of a rare J. C. Deagan 56-note (F-C) vibraharp. The lush, exquisite sounds produced by this instrument are among the most beautiful and soothing in the pipe organ. Some recently obtained information implies that only six units of this model vibraharp were ever manufactured, and of those, only three or four are known to survive.
Four Manual Console J. C. Deagan Vibraharp
