Pipe Organ Database

Andover Organ Co. (1963)

Originally W.B.D. Simmons & Co. (1869)

Exhibited in the 1983 OHS convention(s)

Location:

First Church of Christ, Unitarian
725 Main Street
Lancaster, MA 01523 US
Organ ID: 4742

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Status and Condition:

This instrument's location type is: Unitarian, Universalist, Unitarian-Universalist
The organ has been renovated with changes from its original state.
The organ's condition is good, in regular use.

We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Paul R. Marchesano on September 03, 2021.

Technical Details:

Chests: Slider
19 ranks. 1,028 pipes. 3 divisions. 2 manuals. 18 stops. 16 registers.

Divisions

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.

Consoles

Main:

Manuals: 2
Divisions: 3
Stops: 18
Registers: 16
Position: Keydesk attached.
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.
Console Style: Traditional style with a keyboard cover that can be lifted to form a music rack.
Stop Controls: Drawknobs in horizontal rows on terraced/stepped jambs.
Combination Action: Fixed mechanical system.
Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals.
Pedalboard Type: Flat straight pedalboard.

We received the most recent update for this console from Database Manager on May 13, 2018.

Notes

Stephen St. Denis on December 05, 2022:

From page 95 “The Organ Historical Society, Inc. Organ Handbook 1983”. Published for the 28th Annual National Convention of the Society: The elegant brick church, internationally famous as one of the finest works of the Boston architect, Charles Bulfinch, was built in 1816, and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.  It is still heated by wood stoves…. 
The first organ in the building was installed in 1841; research thus far failed to reveal who built it, or what became of it when it was replaced in 1869 by the present instrument, built by Wm. B.D. Simmons & Co. In 1884, Reuben G. Reed made minor mechanical changes and added a Pedal Bourdon 16’ in 1963, the Andover Organ Co. added one rank to the Mixture II, and added the Sesquialtera II ; at the same time they replaced the two strings in the Swell, a Keraulophon 8’ (TC) and Salicional 8” (TC), with the Flautino 2” and the Quint1 1/3; however, the basic character of the Simmons is unchanged.

We received the most recent update for this note from Stephen St. Denis on December 05, 2022.

Database Manager on July 03, 2014:

Updated through online information from James R. Stettner.

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

Database Manager on May 01, 2014:

Updated through online information from Barbara Owen.

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

Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Status Note: There 1983.

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

Database Manager on October 30, 2004:

Altered Reuben G. Reed 1884; rebuilt Andover 1963, #40, 2-19.

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

Stoplists

Source not recorded: Open In New Tab Stoplist from 1983 OHS Handbook
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.