Wahl Organbuilders

A small local project here. Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin has a wonderful organ program led by professor Daniel Schwandt. They hired us to make a new adjustable-height bench for their fine Ruggles practice organ. Now all students can reach the pedals comfortably. This bench was made of black walnut to match the Ruggles casework.

This afternoon we wrapped up our latest project, a small organ we built for a Grand Rapids, Michigan residence. The organ has eight stops over two manuals and pedal within a freestanding casework.

The stoplist is:

Lower Manual

Fugara 8
Rohrflute 8
Prestant 4
Flautino 2
II-I coupler

Upper Manual

Gedact 8
Lieblich Flute 4
Treble Nasat 3 (from middle c)

Pedal

Subbass 16
Subbass 8 (extension 16)
II-Pedal coupler
I-Pedal coupler

58/30 compasses
Mechanical key and stop actions

The casework is of riftsawn white oak painted with linseed oil paint of seven different colors plus 23k gold leaf. The keydesk is of white oak, walnut, holly, and boxwood. The keys are of cow bone and blackwood.

The majority of the metal pipework was made by Luca Scotti of Scotti Giuseppe of Crema, much of it after late 19th century patterns. The Rohrflute is from an E.&G.G. Hook organ from 1860. The wood pipes were made in the Wahl workshop.

Ronald Wahl, Christoph Wahl, and Jonathan Borchardt designed, constructed, voiced, and installed the instrument.

The organ was built by Charles Ruggles in 1985.

Happy anniversary to us! May 28th marks the 25th year of Wahl Organbuilders. We give thanks to our friends, clients, and employees as we begin our next quarter century.

Moldings all completed, now reassembled for fitting pipeshades. We’ll paint and gild next before final assembly.

Today we’re at the beautiful 1985 J. W. Walker organ at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Appleton, Wisconsin. During our last visit we discovered some damage to the lowest C motor of the Swell Fagotto. We cast a shoulder on the block and made a new wire to bring the pipe back to good condition.

Second stop of the day is an early organ by Ronald Wahl. Charlie the cat stopped for a consultation.

Lenten tunings are underway with a stop at St. Paul Episcopal in Marinette, Wisconsin. The parish is home to a lovely Jaeckel organ from 1994 as well as an even lovelier church member who leaves homemade biscotti for the tuners!

Some things just gel after months of work. Today was such a day. Glad to see the Sun!

Checking in on M.P. Möller opus 10338 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Menasha. A solid workhorse at 12 stops. And chimes!