I HISTORY OF THE E. & G. G. HOOK AND HASTINGS PIPE ORGAN (Boston opus 648)

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, LAFAYETTE, INDIANA

Church records indicate that the Hook and Hastings Organ Company completed installation of an eighteen stop tracker action organ in 1872. Until the fall of 1970 both the organ specification and the action remained unchanged. The instrument served the congregation well, with only minimal maintenance, for this period of almost one hundred years. On one of the swell shades various servicemen have inscribed their names, among whom was Henry Pilcher, Louisville, Kentucky, 1888.

Prior to the rebuilding negotiations, the Church Organ Committee met with knowledgeable consultants who possessed an understanding of the value of American Tracker organs, especially those of historic importance. Through these meetings the committee resolved to rebuild the organ, retaining all of its mechanical action; to repair and use the best of the old pipework; and to augment the pedal division with a new four stop chest.

All original chests were bared to the tables, cleaned and inspected. No cracks were found in any of the tables, so no slider seals were added to the original chests. A few small cracks inside the pallet box were repaired.

An entirely new Meidinger wind system was installed in the organ area with one static and an additional reservoir for each original chest.

The keyboards were re-ivoried and the keytails releathered. Aluminum rods replaced the wooden trackers and plastic squares were installed. A new slider chest with slider seals and a schwimmer bellows was constructed in the builder's shop for the four stop pedal addition. A new twenty seven note AGO standard pedal board was decided upon instead of the old square pedals. The pedal tracker system was re-worked and expanded to accommodate the new chest.

The original pipework was carefully studied and measured in order to find the optimum plan for it in the new tonal scheme. For example, the bottom octave of the Great Melodia was retained and the Flute D Amour from CC was used to replace the open pipes of the alleluia. A new Prinzipal rank of 75% tin and 25% lead replaced the old facade pipes. The original facade pipes were the Open Diapason in the diameter of 180 mm while the new Prinzipal is 149 mm. Toeboards and rackboards were rebuilt to accept the new smaller size pipework.

The organ case is made of solid walnut; the lower panels are of buried walnut. In every respect, the original Hook organ was an example of superb craftsmanship and made an outstanding contribution to musical artistry in the United States.

In the rebuild, care was taken to keep all keyboard actions as light and sensitive as possible. Voicing of new pipework was executed in a manner to complement the characteristics of the old and yet not to lose its own identity, as exemplified in open-toe, gentle-winded pipework with little or no nicking of the languids. Of particular interest is the Oboe, whose resonators beginning with A31 have no scroll device to assist in the voicing and tuning. Notwithstanding, this Oboe voiced well and is one of the finest to be heard.

The builder, Leonard G. Berghaus of Melrose Park, Illinois, herewith expresses his thanks to the First Baptist Church for entrusting the rebuild in his care; to Fred Lake for his assistance in the tonal finishing, and to Paul Jochum for his exceptional craftmanshlp exemplified in much of the new and rebuilt portions of the chestwork and action.

HOOK AND HASTINGS PIPE ORGAN

 

Built in 1872

Rebuilt in 1971

SPECIFICATION

Great Organ - - - - 58

notes

Swell Organ - - - - 58 notes (Expressive)

Gedackt

16'

       Salizional-Celeste II      8'

*Prinzipal

8'

*Gedackt                               8'

Rohr- Gedackt

8'

*Rohrflote                            4'

*Oktav

4'

Prinzipal                                 2'

*Spillflote

4'

*Scharf  III                            1'

*Quinte

2-2/3'

Oboe                                      8'

*Waldflote

2'

Tremulant                             8'

*Terz

1-3/5'

 

*Mixtur III

I-1/3'

 

Trompete

8'

 

 

Pedal Organ - - - - 27 notes                      Couplers:           Swell to Great

Great to Pedal

 Subbass                  16'                                               Swell to Pedal

*Prinzipal                   8'

*Gemshorn                8'

 Choralbass             4'

 Mixtur III                2'

*Posaune                  16

 

Summary:

 

Great                         10 stops                  12 ranks                     696 pipes

Swell                         6 stops                   9 ranks                       510 pipes

Pedal                         6 stops                    8 ranks                       256 pipes

22 stops                 29 ranks                     1462 pipes

*Asterisks denote new pipework except for the Oktav and the Quinte which are rebuilt used pipes.