St. Paul Lutheran

Portland, Oregon,  1994

INTRODUCTION: This organ was originally built by the MP Möller Company of Hagerstown, MD in 1984 as their Opus 11025.  The instrument was located in two identical cases, located on either side of the hexagonal window.  When the Church approached us about some tonal additions, the idea of a Ruckpositiv division, located behind the organist, on the balcony railing was a logical choice, based upon historic models of Lutheran Churches in Germany.  This division could more musically lead the congregation in singing during the normal Service.  It also allowed for some modest tonal additions/changes to take place.

CASEWORK/FAÇADE: The casework for the Ruckpositiv is made of red oak that houses a modest four stop division.  The façade contains the low notes of the 4’ Principal and is of polished tin.

WINDCHESTS: The windchest for the Ruckpositiv was custom built in the Marceau shop and is of electro-pneumatic unit design.  All of the existing Möller windchests were in excellent condition. A new blower and wedge bellows reservoir were supplied to the instrument.

CONSOLE: The console was retained as is with the addition of new rocker tabs for the newly installed pipework.  The switching system was enhanced with electro-mechanical devices to accommodate the added stops from the Ruckpositiv.

PIPEWORK: Much of the existing Möller pipework was retained (4’ Regal was moved to the Ruckpositiv with the addition of a low octave to play at 8’ pitch) that also included the addition of the following: Swell (8’ Salicional, 8’ Voix Celeste, 2 2/3’ Cornet II) and Great (8’ Gedeckt, 4’ Principal, 1 1/3’ Mixture III)  All pipework was regulated to produce a unified musical ensemble.