Over the last week and a half, we’ve begun the instillation of our new Shoenstein pipe organ. The activities included:
- Removal of the Moeller Organ from the organ chamber
- Moving the partition between the great and swell chambers back 2 1/2 inches
- Strip old wiring and de-solder electrical connections from the Shoenstein organ
- Begin re-wiring the new Shoenstein wind chests
- Installation of the first parts of the Shoenstein organ.
On 16 August, we began removing the Moeller organ from it’s chamber in the sanctuary. This included removing all the pipes, air reservoirs, duct work, wind chests, support structure and other items. We will be re-using a number of pipes and wind chests with the new organ, so those were set aside. Most of the remaining pipes will go to a specialized recycler, as they are made of a lead-tin alloy, which must be disposed of properly.
At the same time, we began preparing the wind chests of the Shoenstein to receive new wiring. This involves stripping off all of the old wiring and de-soldering the electrical connections from the previous installation. The wiring must be removed because it is older wire with waxed cotton insulation, and the electrical code does not allow the re-connection of this wiring. A big part of Calvary’s task is this re-wiring, which will include re-connecting upwards of 1,500 connections.
Through the course of the week, we were instructed on the wiring process, and started in on the two wind chests for the swell organ. By the end of our work session Saturday, we had finished wiring 5 ranks of the 8-rank swell organ. That leaves us 11 ranks still to complete for the swell and great organs, and then several more for the pedal organ.
We also removed the toe boards from the top of the wind chests. This allowed the chest shells to be moved into the swell organ organ chamber and installed on their supports.
A huge thanks to the parish volunteers who helped out this past week:
- Carol Walker
- John Wesolowski
- Liz Wesolowski
- David Folsom-Jones
- Caryn Machado
- Allison Gong
- Austin Leininger
Much of the work was dusty, tiring, and tedious, but we all had a good time and learned a lot!
Carrying out a wind chest. 
Liz disassembles a wind chest. 
Wind chests for the new organ – a partially disassembled swell chest (foreground) and the great chests (behind). 
John and Alex carry a toe board to be temporarily stored in the pews. 
Just barely fits! 
Shells of the wind chests for the swell organ installed. 
David, Allison, Carol, and Alex work on the wiring. 
The vestry room is our temporary wiring station. 
Completed wiring and soldering of a rank.