Massapequa 3/13 Wurlitzer

Experience the sound of the Theatre Pipe Organ

Private Residence, Massapequa, L.I.

This is the only known currently operating Theatre Pipe Organ installed in a residence in the New York Theatre Organ Society’s geographic area.


Loew’s 167th Bronx, N.Y.

Shipped from the North Tonowanda factory to the Loew’s 167th street theatre in the Bronx on August 4, 1928, the organ started its life as a 3/11 Style 230 Wurlitzer. Thirty-seven years later in 1965 it was removed from the theatre and installed in the current owner’s home in the town of Massapequa on Long Island.Style 230 Wurlitzers were shipped from the factory with the following 11 ranks:

  1. Tuba
  2. Diapason
  3. Flute
  4. Clarinet
  5. Vox Humana
  6. Viol d’ Orchestre
  7. Viol Celeste
  8. Tibia Clausa
  9. Orchestral Oboe
  10. Kinura
  11. Salicional

The organ plays today as a 3/13. The current owners replaced the Orchestral Oboe with a Wurlitzer Brass Saxophone, and they installed two additional Wurlitzer ranks: a Post Horn and a Brass Trumpet. The Trumpet and Sax came from the Palace Theatre in Dallas, Texas. The Post Horn is a Wurlitzer replica by Trivo. The instrument is powered by a blower obtained from the Oritani Theatre, Hackensack, N.J.

Console specifications before addition of the Post Horn and Brass Trumpet:

Pedal – 32 Notes

1 Tuba Profunda 8 Cello
16 Diaphone 8, Flute
16 Bourdon 4 Octave
8 Harmonic Tuba Bass Drum
8 Diaphonic Diapason Kettle Drum
8 Tibia Clausa Crash Cymbal
8 Clarinet Traps Switch: 1st & 2nd Touch

Accompaniment (Manual I) – 61 notes

16 Bourdon 4 Vox Humana
16 Contra Viol [TC] 2 2/3 Twelfth
8 Harmonic Tuba 2 Piccolo
8 Diaphonic Diapason Marimba [re-it]
8 Tibia Clausa Chrysoglott
8 Clarinet Snare Drum
8 Kinura Tambourine
8 Brass Sax (replaced Orch Oboe) Castanets
8 Viol d’Orchestre Chinese Block
8 Viol Celeste Tom Tom
8 Salicional Sand Block
8 Flute
8 Vox Humana Accompaniment 2nd Touch
4 Octave 8 Harmonic Tuba
4 Piccolo 8 Tibia Clausa
4 Viol 8 Clarinet
4 Octave Celeste Cathedral Chimes
4 Salicet Xylophone
4 Flute Solo to Accomp.

Great (Manual II) – 61 Notes

16 Tuba Profunda 4 Salicet
16 Diaphone 4 Flute
16 Tibia Clausa [TC] 2 2/3 Twelfth [Tibia]
16 Clarinet [TC] 2 2/3 Twelfth
16 Contra Viol [TC] 2 Piccolo [Tibia]
16 Bourdon 2 Fifteenth
16 Vox Humana [TC] 2 Piccolo
8 Harmonic Tuba 1 3/5 Tierce
8 Diaphonic Diapason Marimba [re-it]
8 Tibia Clausa Harp
8 Clarinet Cathedral Chimes
8 Kinura Sleigh Bells
8 Brass Sax (replaced Orch Oboe) Xylophone
8 Viol d’Orchestre Glockenspiel
8 Viol Celeste Bells [re-it]
8 Salicional Chrysoglott
8 Flute Solo to Great
8 Vox Humana
4 Harmonic Clarion Great 2nd Touch
4 Octave 16 Tuba Profunda
4 Piccolo 8 Tibia Clausa
4 Viol 8 Clarinet
4 Octave Celeste Solo to Great

Solo (Manual III) – 61 Notes

16 Tuba Profunda 8 Salicional
16 Diaphone 4 Harmonic Clarion
16 Tibia Clausa [TC] 4 Octave
8 Harmonic Tuba 4 Piccolo
8 Diaphone Diapason Cathedral Chimes
8 Tibia Clausa Xylophone
8 Clarinet Glockenspiel
8 Kinura Chrysoglott
8 Brass Sax (replaced Orch Oboe)

Tremulants (5)

Main Vox Humana
Solo Tibia Clausa
Tuba

Adjustable Combinations

Pedal Pistons 1-2-3 (toe)
Accompaniment Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Great Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb)
Solo Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)

General

Two Balanced Expression Pedals
One Balanced Crescendo Pedal
One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal
• 1st Touch: Full stops (wind)
• 2nd Touch: Everything
One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal
• 1st Touch: Snare Drum
• 2nd Touch: Bass Drum and Cymbal

Effects (Operated by Pistons)

Siren Steamboat Whistle
Auto Horn Horse Hoofs
Fire Gong Bird Whistle
Gong Door Bell (operated by push button)

Author