Blaine, Washington
Residence: Don Stagg
ESTEY ORGAN CO., Opus 978, 1912
Balcom and Vaughan, Opus 464, 1949 - Electrification
Don Stagg, 1995 - Removal, Moving, & Reinstallation
GREAT (Expressive) COUPLERS
8 Open Diapason 61 Swell to Pedal 8,4
8 Melodia 61 Great to Pedal 8,4
8 Dulciana 61
4 Octave 61 Swell to Great 16,8,4
Chimes (21)
Great to Great 16' PEDAL MOVEMENTS
Great Unison Off 8' Expression (bal.)
Great to Great 4' Crescendo (bal.)
SWELL (Expressive)
8 Stopped Flute 61
8 Salicional 49
8 Voix Celeste (tc) 49
4 Flute Harmonic 61
8 Oboe [labial] (tc) 49
Tremolo ACTION: E-P ventil
Swell to Swell 16' VOICES: 10
Swell Unison Off 8'
Swell to Swell 4' STOPS: 11; inc. chimes
RANKS: 10
PEDAL (Expressive)
16 Bourdon 30 PIPES: 543
NOTES
The Estey was installed in what was originally known as Broadway United Presbyterian
Church. That same congregation later became know as First United Presbyterian Church.
In 19__, the Presbyterian congregation sold the edifice to another congregation and
the building became known as Broadway Christian Church. By the early 1990's, that
congregation had dwindled to the point that only about a dozen members were attending
worship, and services were held in one of the smaller classrooms rather than the
sanctuary. In 1991, the Christian congregation sold the building to Abundant Life
Pentecostal Church. In 1993, with the organ not being used, Abundant Life offered the
organ for sale. It was purchased in 1995 by Don Stagg of Blaine, WA. who installed the
organ in his home.
As originally installed, the Estey was free-standing and encased with at least 15 pipes
of the Great 8' Open Diapason in the facade. Key and stop action were tubular-pneumatic.
The Great and Pedal were non-expressive while the Swell was enclosed.
In 1949, First (Broadway) United Presbyterian Church contracted Balcom and Vaughan of
Seattle to electrify and move the organ. The original tubular-pneumatic action was
converted to electro-pneumatic, and the entire organ was placed in a single chamber
under expression. The originally visible pipes of the Great 8' Open Diapason were
placed on an offset chest. A set of used Kimball expression shutters were used to
make the chamber expressive. The original attached keydesk was detached and made
independent and air-free. A new stop rail replaced the original stop action, and a
21-note set of chimes on electric action was added to the organ. No other tonal
changes were made, and the original chests were retained.
The pipes of the Great 8'Open Diapason begin in zinc, but then change over to thick,
heavy lead. The 8' Melodia has 24 stopped wood basses, and all the remaining pipes are
of open wood with inverted mouths. The tenor C 8' Dulciana is of spotted metal throughout
and borrows notes 1-12 from the 8' Melodia. The 4' Octave is also entirely of spotted
metal, and the first 20 pipes are bearded.
The pipes of the Swell 8' Stopped Flute are of stopped wood for 49 pipes with 12 open,
spotted metal trebles. The 8' Salicional is of spotted metal throughout as is the tenor
C 8' Voix Celeste. And like the Great 8' Dulciana, the 8' Salicional borrows notes 1-12
from another rank – in this case the 8' Stopped Flute. The 4' Flute Harmonic is the same
lead composition as the 8' Open Diapason. It goes harmonic at middle C and stay harmonic
throughout the remaining compass. The tenor C 8' Oboe is a labial reed with a cylindrical/
tapered resonator. It is entirely of spotted metal.
The 30 pipes of the Pedal 16' Bourdon are entirely of stopped wood.
As installed in the Stagg Residence, the console is upstairs in the Music Room next to the
Wm. A. Johnson tracker. The pipes are installed in a basement chamber and speak up through
a wooden floor grate.
Sources: Balcom and Vaughan opus list and files; jRS; extant organ.
[Received from James R. Stettner 2016-04-04.]