Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co. (Opus 887-A, 1938)

Originally The Aeolian Co. (Opus 1722, 1930before)

Location:

Residence: William F. Raskob - Irisbrook / Raskob Foundation
10 Monchanin Road
Greenville, DE 19807 US
Headquarters of the Raskob Foundation
Organ ID: 24680

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Private Residences
  • The organ has been restored to a previous state.
  • The organ's condition is good, in regular use.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: EP pitman
  • 3 divisions. 3 manuals.
All:
  • Chest Type(s): EP pitman chests
  • Position: In center chambers at the front of the room. No visible pipes.
We received the most recent update for this division from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Main:
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 3
  • Position: Console in fixed position, center.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 32
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Traditional style without cover.
  • Stop Controls: Tilting/rocking tablets on angled jambs.
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard.
  • Has Tutti Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Tutti Reversible Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.
Database Manager on February 13, 2015:

Updated through online information from George W. Bayley. -- The organ is in Irisbrook, the William Raskob mansion that now is the headquarters of the Raskob Foundation. I play this organ every Thursday and it is just down the street from where we live, 242 Presidential Drive, Greenville 19807-3312. I recorded a CD on the organ for the Raskob Foundation the summer of 2012. It is playable but now is quite our of tune. It is OK mechanically, however.

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

Database Manager on March 10, 2014:

Updated through online information from Paul W. Harris. -- The restoration of the organ is now complete. The Dickinson Theatre Organ Society Organ Crew will continue to maintain the organ on a regular basis. The organ is played weekly by several organists.

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

Database Manager on December 27, 2011:

Updated through online information from Paul W. Harris. -- As of December 2011 the 61-note harp is now playable at 8- pitch as the "Harp" register and at 4- pitch as the "Celesta" register. These stops are available on all three manual divisions. The Celesta is played with all dampers off the tone bars. The chests were rebuilt off-site and all damaged components were replaced with new materials. All pipework and the harp and chimes are now playable utilizing rebuilt original switch stacks. The Dickinson Theatre Organ Society Organ Crew will continue to provide routine maintenance on this instrument.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on February 11, 2019.

Database Manager on December 30, 2010:

Updated through online information from Paul W. Harris. -- As of July, 2010 all of the organ pipework is playable and the organ was professionally tuned for the first time in over fifteen years. The crescendo and sforzando are operational, but the combination action cannot be restored due to missing components. A short concert was presented on the instrument at the September, 2010 annual meeting of the Raskob Foundation. Currently, the 61-note harp is being rebuilt due to extensive insect damage to the felt components. Restoration of the Duo Art Player mechanism and the Steinway Duo Art piano are outside the scope of this project.

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

Database Manager on July 30, 2009:

From Paul Harris: As of July, 2009 Swell organ is completely playable; pedal organ is 90% playable; work is continuing on the great and choir organs.

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

Database Manager on November 23, 2008:

Updated through online information from Paul W. Harris. -- The organ is in good original condition. Currently volunteer members of the Dickinson Theatre Organ Society maintenance crew are working to repair the organ to playing condition. A complete restoration is not intended. That which cannot be made playable will be conserved for future restoration.

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

Database Manager on November 16, 2006:

Identified through information adapted from E. M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List, by Sand Lawn and Allen Kinzey (Organ Historical Society, 1997), and included here through the kind permission of Sand Lawn:
Aeolian-Skinner Opus 887-X2, added to Aeolian Op. 1722 as choir organ.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Stoplist taken from the console July, 2009
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
History and Description: Overview: Open In New Tab Submitted as an attachment to the Historic Organ Award application
Document created on 2013-05-06
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Stoplist: Open In New Tab Submitted as an attachment to the Historic Organ Award application
Document created on 2013-05-06
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Rank Location, Pipe Counts, Chest Assignments: Open In New Tab Submitted as an attachment to the Historic Organ Award application
Document created on 2013-05-06
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Attic Relay Board Maps: Open In New Tab Submitted as an attachment to the Historic Organ Award application
Document created on 2013-05-06
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Winding Schematic: Open In New Tab Submitted as an attachment to the Historic Organ Award application
Document created on 2013-05-06
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Aeolian-Skinner to William E. Raskob: Open In New Tab Letter regarding addition to existing organ.
Document created on 1938-05-27
We received the most recent update for this document from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.

Instrument Images:

Music Room Interior and Console: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Console: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Left Stop Controls (Swell and Pedal): Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Right Stop Controls (Great and Choir): Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Builder's Nameplate: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Console: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Pedalboard, Swell Pedals, and Toe Studs: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Rear Console Interior: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Choir Pipework: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Swell Pipework: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Great Pipework: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Pedal Bourdon, Harp, and Chimes: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Windchest Label: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Attic Relay Sticks: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Attic Key Relay: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Attic Combination Machine: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24

Building Exterior: Photograph by Paul Harris. Taken on 2012-04-24