This project on organ building in New South Wales between 1850 and 1900 is in two parts. The first part describes the mechanism and tonal production of organs of this period while the second part describes the work of British and Australian builders in the local field.

The mechanical and tonal developments leading up to the present-day modern British organ have been treated by many able and experienced enthusiasts of the instrument so that this section is in no way original. It is hoped however, that not only will it assist in an understanding of the descriptions in the second section but that it will also stress those aspects of the craft which gave the instruments of this period their own particular character.

The second part, recording the work of British and Australian builders in the local field attempts to show the extent of organ-building activity in New South Wales at this time. It endeavours to show who were the important firms, where examples of their work are to be found and to give a detailed description of at least one instrument representative of each firm's work. In the case of Australian builders, notes on organs built since 1900 have been included in order to give some idea of trends since then, as well as to complete the work of certain builders and place as many instruments as possible on record.

While the instruments have been classified according to their builders, the possible history of individual instruments should not be overlooked. Some of the instruments proved to have quite an interesting history upon enquiry. However, time has prevented this being done in every case so that further evidence may possibly be brought forward.

Finally, this project does not attempt to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the instruments of this period from a present-day performer's point of view, although one or two observations have been made; rather it aims to record as many instruments as possible.

Much of the information in the second section has been obtained from different local enthusiasts but particularly valuable has been a collection of photographs and specifications as well as a collection of press cuttings made by the late Robert Cherry, both collections having been made available through the kindness of Mrs. Cherry.

To all those who have helped the writer in his efforts, his grateful thanks is extended.

C O N T E N T S

Preface

• Introduction
• The Mechanism of the Instrument
• The Practice of Tonal Production

British Organ Builders:

• Bevington and Sons
• Bryceson
• Forster and Andrews
• Hill and Sons
• Hunter and Sons
• Walker and Sons

Australian Organ Builders:

• Note on an early organ builder
• W. Davidson
• C. J. Jackson
• Notes on some later builders

LIST OF DIAGRAMS

• Bellows
• Key action
• Stop action
• Barker lever action
• Tubular pneumatic exhaust system
• Tubular pneumatic pressure system
• Flue pipe and parts
• Reed pipe and parts
• Diagram of various types of stops

LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS

• The organ at St. Stephen's, Newtown
• Newtown Methodist Church
• St. Thomas', North Sydney
• All Saints, Woollahra

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• The Modern British Organ - Noel Bonavia-Hunt
• The Organ - W.L. Sumner
• Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians - Article under "Organ".
• Oxford Companion to Music - Percy Scholes
• "The Organ", London - a quarterly magazine.

2 collections of photographs, specifications and press cuttings by the late Robert Cherry.