Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Puget Sound Pipe Organs (2021)

Originally Wicks (Opus 74, 1913)

Location:

St. James RC Church / Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater
218 W. 12th St.
Vancouver, WA 98660 US
Sanctuary; rear gallery
Organ ID: 52095

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Roman Catholic Churches
  • The organ is unaltered 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 Jim Stettner on May 20, 2021.

Technical Details:

  • Chests: Direct electric, EP ventil
  • 33 ranks. 1,912 pipes. 4 divisions. 2 manuals. 30 stops. 49 registers.
Great:
  • Chest Type(s): Direct electric chests
  • Position: In gallery-level chambers at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Puget Sound Pipe Organs
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 23, 2020.

Swell:
  • Chest Type(s): EP ventil chests
  • Position: In gallery-level chambers at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Puget Sound Pipe Organs
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 23, 2020.

Pedal:
  • Chest Type(s): EP ventil chests
  • Position: In a case at the front of the room.
  • Built by Puget Sound Pipe Organs
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 23, 2020.

Processional Trumpet (floating):
  • Chest Type(s): Direct electric chests
  • Position: Exposed pipes or case front visible in a gallery at the rear of the room.
  • Built by Puget Sound Pipe Organs
We received the most recent update for this division from Jim Stettner on September 23, 2020.
Main:
  • Built by Reuter Organ Co.
  • Manuals: 2
  • Divisions: 4
  • Stops: 30
  • Registers: 49
  • Position: Console in fixed position, right.
  • 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 with roll top.
  • Stop Controls: Drawknobs in vertical rows on angled jambs.
  • Combination Action: Computerized/Digital system.
  • Combination Action Name: Syndyne LS 8400
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, AGO standard placement.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard meeting AGO Standards.
  • Has Crescendo Pedal
  • Has Tutti Reversible Thumb Pistons
  • Has Tutti Reversible Toe Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Jim Stettner on September 23, 2020.
Database Manager on January 06, 2014:

Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- Just before Christmas 2013, the permanent Swell 4' Principal was installed. This was a 1907 Estey (Op. 414) Swell 8' Salicional which was cut-down, de-bearded, and revoiced. Also, the Swell 4' Harmonic Flute from that same Estey was installed in the Swell. A new 19-note chest for conveyed wind to the facade pipes was also installed - replacing a combination direct-electric/electro-pneumatic chest from the 1950's electrification which had partially failed.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on November 25, 2013:

Updated through online information from James R. Stettner. -- In late November 2013, Puget Sound Pipe Organs made a few tonal changes and additions. The original Wicks Great 4' Octave was returned from the Swell to the Great, and the softer set from the Great was temporarily installed in the Swell. The Great 4' Flute d'Amour and the Swell unit flute had their stoppers re-leathered. A 4' Harmonic Flute was added to the Swell to replace the missing original and to partially de-unify the Swell flute chorus. And a temporary 2' Fifteenth was installed on the Great in place of the cut-down, rescaled Gemshorn that was being used as a 2' register. This increased the size of the organ to 18 ranks.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Database Manager on November 02, 2013:

New console for the existing organ. Identified by James R. Stettner, based on personal knowledge of the organ. -- This building was completed in 1885, and was the 2nd Cathedral edifice - the first having burned. In 1907 when the territorial See was officially transferred to Seattle, and the title of St. James Cathedral was transferred to Seattle with the bishop - St. James in Vancouver became a parish church. On Sunday, October 27, 2013, it was proclaimed the Proto Cathedral of St. James the Greater at a 5:00 High Mass.
This organ project is the first phase in a project of mechanical refurbishing and tonal revision. A used 1950s Reuter drawknob console from First Congregational in Tacoma was gutted, stripped, refinished, and retro-fited with new solid state components. The 1954 chamber relays were also replaced with solid state components and all cotton-wrapped wiring was replaced. Other phases enlarging the organ to 35-ranks will follow in 2014.

We received the most recent update for this note from Database Manager on April 09, 2020.
Stoplist copied from the console: Open In New Tab Originally published September 23, 2020
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Jim Stettner on May 20, 2021.

Instrument Images:

Console in PSPO shop: Photograph by Michael A. Way. Taken on 2013-10-11

Console in PSPO shop: Photograph by Michael A. Way. Taken on 2013-10-11

Swell pipework: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2015-04-03

Pedal 16' Double Open Wood and 3 Great chests re-installed: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. May 2019

Great chamber re-installed: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. May 2019

Great 2-2/3' Twelfth, 2' Fifteenth, and 1-3/5' Seventeenth: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. May 2019

Pedal 8' Diapason facade: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2018-02-15

Original Wicks facade stenciled: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2020-09-21

Processional Trumpet in 2nd gallery before case added: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2020-09-22

View up to the Processional Trumpet in the 2nd gallery - pre-casework: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2020-09-22

Proto-Cathedral interior from the upper gallery: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken on 2020-09-22

Great 16' Violone facade (from 8' CC) in shop: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. May 2018

Gt. 16' Violone facade on nave side of Great chamber: Photograph by James R. Stettner. Taken approx. June 2018

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