Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

J. H. Willcox & Co. (Opus 5, 1870)

Exhibited in the 1996 OHS convention(s)

Location:

St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church / St. John Neuman Shrine
1019 N. Fifth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123 US
Sanctuary; rear gallery
Organ ID: 184

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been removed from this location and currently in storage.
  • The organ's condition is not playable.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on October 20, 2022.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider
  • 54 ranks. 2,845 pipes. 4 divisions. 3 manuals. 45 stops. 45 registers.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
  • Position: In a gallery-level case at the rear of the room.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Gallery:
  • Built by J. H. Willcox & Co.
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 4
  • Stops: 45
  • Registers: 45
  • Position: Detached, reversed keydesk (mechanical action).
  • Manual Compass: 58
  • Pedal Compass: 27
  • Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
  • Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
  • Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.
We received the most recent update for this console from Jim Stettner on June 08, 2021.
Colin O'Malley on October 29, 2021:

Rebuilt and electrified in 1941, new (current) detached console added at that time. Pietro Yon played the re-dedicatory recital.

We received the most recent update for this note from Colin O'Malley on October 29, 2021.
Database Manager on October 25, 2017:

Updated by Ken Houser
The organ is still in the church, it has not been removed or parted out. It appears to be complete. It needs complete restoration. The console was dismantled and is in storage in in a back room off the choir loft.
Currently, a Baldwin 2 manual electronic is in use.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on July 08, 2013:

Updated through online information from Therese Fassnacht. -- I am the great, great grandaughter of F.E. Fassnacht who was born in the parish in 1865. He was the organist for over 20 years roughly 1880- 1905. I found a picture of the organ. I visited the church in 1999 and it was up in the loft. Sadly it was pretty much in shambles.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Electrified? [BOC (1979) indicates rebuilt or replaced, case may exist.] 40 registers on 1876 list.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
"Historic Organs of Philadelphia - Thirty-Two Historic Pipe Organs, Camden to Reading" - CD Box Set, Copyright 1999 Organ Historical Society: Open In New Tab Originally published 1999
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Nathan Laube on June 07, 2020.
Grand Organ Opening: Open In New Tab The Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 Jun 1871, Thu · Page 7; Newspaper article describes the organ and its opening concerts.
Document created on 1871-06-15
We received the most recent update for this document from Jeff Fowler on July 29, 2023.

Instrument Images:

Organ in rear gallery: Photograph by Mary Stamper. Taken on 2021-01-02

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