David E. Wallace & Co. LLC, Pipe Organ Builders, of Gorham, Maine, has signed a contract with Grace Episcopal Church of Medford, Massachusetts, for the renovation of their E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings Opus 803 (1875) pipe organ. The mechanical key action of the Hook & Hastings organ was changed to electro-pneumatic action in the early 1950s. Several unified ranks were added to the instrument, as well as a Trumpet stop, first on the Swell and then moved to the Great.
The Wallace & Co. project will retain and restore the slider windchests. The electro-pneumatic pull-downs will be rebuilt to more accurately fit the chests. The tonal specification will be returned to one similar to the original Hook & Hastings instrument. Care will be taken to ensure that any and all added stops are appropriate to the existing Hook & Hastings pipework. A new state of the art console will replace the aging Austin replica console and a double-rise reservoir will be returned to the wind system. The project is scheduled for completion in time for Christmas 2015. For information: www.wallacepipeorgans.com.
