Main Post Chapel

Fort Lewis, Washington, 1991

This organ is a continuation of a series of projects that started in 1934 and culminating with the current instrument, completed in 1991. The first organ was built by the Reuter Organ Company in 1934 with modifications in 1965 by the Fritts Organ Company of Tacoma, WA, 1976 by Balcom & Vaughan Pipe Organs in 1976 and Marceau Pipe Organbuilders in 1971. While much of the existing pipework and windchests were retained, a number of new components were introduced to put the instrument in a “like new” status.

The façade pipes consist of the 8’ Principal from the Great and Pedal divisions. The outside façade pipes are non functional. All façade pipes were painted to create a uniform appearance. All of the existing Reuter offset windchests were retained and thoroughly rebuilt for the Gallery organ. The existing Fritts windchests were also retained for the Chancel organ. New windchests were added; the main windchests are of slider/pallet design and unit windchests of direct valve design. A new console was built that included rocker tab stop action units and a new switching system from Peterson Electro-Musical Products. Most of the new metal pipes were hand crafted AR Schopp’s Sons of Canton, OH that included the re-scaled, reed and flue ranks. Organ Supply Industries of Erie, PA provided the Pedal 16’ Subbass. All of the existing Reuter pipework was rescaled and re-voiced to match the new sounds of the organ.