Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Unknown Builder (1905)

Originally Pomplitz Church Organ Co. (Opus 140, 1869)
Exhibited in the 1964, 2011 OHS convention(s)

Location:

St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church
14 M Street SE
Washington, DC 20003 US
Organ ID: 1891

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ has been altered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition needs attention, but in usable condition.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on October 31, 2022.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Slider
  • 14 ranks. 778 pipes. 2 manuals. 14 stops.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): Slider chests
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on September 23, 2019.
Main:
  • Manuals: 2
  • Stops: 14
  • Key Action: Mechanical connection from key to chest (tracker, sticker or mix).
  • Stop Action: Mechanical connection between stop control and chest.
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on September 23, 2019.
Paul R. Marchesano on October 31, 2022:

The Pomplitz organ was featured at the 1964 OHS convention when some remedial work was carried out to make it playable. OHS members replaced felt and leather nuts in the action. The double fold reservoir was cut down to single rise and releathered. Paper stop faces were inserted to replace the missing inserts. When the organ was inspected in 1976, it was very dirty. A onetime employee of Lewis & Hitchcock, the late Larry Ramberg, served as organist for the church from 1976 to 1984. Charity work that kept the organ playing included cleaning the organ and putting tuning slides on the pipes damaged from years of cone tuning. At a later time, the Pedal 8ʹ Open Diapason pipes was returned to the organ from storage in the tower. It is played regularly for church services, though other keyboard instruments in the gallery are also used.

The Roosevelt-style wheel and feeder bellows remain with the organ but are not functional. The tremolo was removed, perhaps for repair, in 1993 and is missing; its stop mechanism is disconnected. The case is walnut but has been painted a cream color with wood graining on the panels. The drawknobs, attached to square shanks, are elegantly turned, with ivory color discs engraved with the stop names inserted in the face of the knob (many are missing). These are arrayed in two vertical rows, diagonally offset from each other, to either side of the keyboards and music desk. The keydesk is recessed into the case and the Swell keys do not overhang the Great. A set of sliding doors encloses the keyboards. The keyboards do not overhang the pedal keys, which are aligned in a manner sure to confound a modern organist unfamiliar with the arrangement. The original hitch-down swell lever is to the right of the pedalboard. -- 2011 OHS Atlas

We received the most recent update for this note from Paul R. Marchesano on October 31, 2022.
Database Manager on September 23, 2019:

Updated by David Storey

I don\'t know where this notion that I am restoring or have restored this organ came from. I have never worked on this organ and am quite unfamiliar with it. - David Storey

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on September 24, 2019.
Database Manager on May 07, 2018:
We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on September 23, 2019.
Database Manager on December 01, 2004:

Undergoing renovation by David Storey in 2001. Reinstalled the 8' open wood pedal pipes (original windchest and action were still there).

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab From 2011 convention program
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Nave, Gallery, and Pipe Facade: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2010-11-15

Keydesk: Photograph by Len Levasseur. Taken on 2010-11-15