leaderboard1 -

Wicks 5-rank Pipe Organ

April 25, 2015

Forestdale Baptist Church (Birmingham) is offering its (1983?) 5-rank Wicks instrument for sale. 

Console:  2 manuals & pedal, all electric, no combination action, Swell and Crescendo shoes, built-in music rack, roll-top bench. SFZ toe stud with indicator light. “Organ On” indicator light. Dark mahogany finish.

Physical Disposition of Organ and Pipes, etc.:  Originally, except for the Subbass, the organ was fully encased; console free-standing. Re-engineered (divided into chambers and exposed Principal pipework facing sanctuary & choir) and enlarged in 1989 with addition of bottom octave of Gemshorn (1 to 5, mitered to fit chamber), Celeste and Schantz Trompette. Schantz blower has sound muffling enclosure. Two sets of expression shades, each set having vanes that face the sanctuary and choir area.  Relay is located in the main organ chamber (sanc-tuary right). Trompette and Subbass in separate chamber (sanctuary left). Blower in hallway behind right chamber. All pipes, reservoirs, windlines, expression motors and Cymbelstern are in excellent condition. Blower motor is service free. Chambers and organ are very clean.

Voicing, Pipe Construction, etc.:  Static pressure from blower, 5-1/2 inches. CFM unknown. Except for the Trompette, organ is voiced on 3 inches wind. Trompette is voiced on 3-1/2 inches wind, 3-1/2 inch scale @ C-1. Pipes 1 to 8, mitered to fit chamber and has a commanding character but isn’t overpowering. Except for the Gemshorn Celeste, flues are open toe. Subbass/Leiblich Gedeckt utilizes a Wicks “dual valve” contrivance that permits a lower amount of wind to each Subbass pipe when the “Leiblich Gedackt” stop is drawn, thus permitting a softer support for pedal lines. Presumably, both valves (per pipe) open when both the Subbass and Leiblich stops are drawn. Gemshorn Celeste, exceptionally nice sound. Flute and Principal ranks, clear and clean sounding and unforced. Some minor Principal regulation in exposed bottom octave is needed. Principal pipes (1 to 6-8?) are “Haskelled.” Main chest is prepared for two more ranks.

The organ was serviced, mechanically (blower turbine and shade mechanisms lubricated, most drawknob contacts cleaned) January 5, 2005, by Michael Proscia Organbuilder, Inc., Bowdon, GA, which was the curator of the organ from May 1989 until April 2006. Since then the organ has been used only on occasion and it has not been tuned since.

To schedule a date and time to inspect and play the organ, please contact Rev. Don Batson at 205-383-8685 during normal business hours.  Also, you may contact Michael Proscia Organbuilder, Inc. at 770-258-3388 during normal business hours or via e-mail to [email protected]. Pictures are available via e-mail.

Stoplist:

SWELL
8 Rohrflute
8 Gemshorn 
8 Gemshorn Celeste (t.c.) 
4 Flute 
4 Gemshorn 
2-2/3 Quint 
2 Blockflute 
1-1/3 Larigot 
1 Gemshorn (top octave repeats)
8 Trompette 
Tremulant

GREAT 
8 Principal 
8 Rohr Gedeckt 
8 Gemshorn 
8 Gemshorn Celeste 
4 Principal 
4 Copula 
2 Octave 
2 Gemshorn 
III Mixture (derived) 
8 Trompette 
4 Clarion 
8 Sw/Gt 
Cymbelstern

PEDAL
16 Subbass (dual valve) 
16 Leiblich Gedeckt. (dual valve) 
8 Principal 
8 Rohr Gedeckt 
4 Choral Bass 
2 Flute 
8 Trompette
4 Clarion (Quint 1-1/3) 
8 Gt/Pd 
8 Sw/Pd 

Contact Info

Company / Name: Michael Proscia
Contact First Name: Michael
Contact Last Name: Proscia
Phone: 770/258-3388