Wirsching Organ Co.
1890

Originally Wm. A. Johnson (Opus 195, 1865)

St. Mary Roman Catholic Church

320 Middle Avenue
Elyria, OH, US

13 Ranks - 656 Pipes
Instrument ID: 41230 ● Builder ID: 6822 ● Location ID: 36354
⬆️ These are database IDs that may change. Don't use as academic reference.EXPLORE IMAGESVIEW STOPLIST

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Plenum Organ Company

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IMAGES

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STOPLISTS

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CONSOLES

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Builder: Unknown
Position: Unknown
Design: Unknown
Pedalboard Type: Unknown
Features:
2 Manuals

Stop Layout: Unknown
Expression Type: Unknown
Combination Action: Unknown
Control System: Unknown or N/A

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DETAILS

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Exhibited in the 2009 OHS convention(s)
This instrument is: Extant and Playable in this location

Brad Engelland on January 1st, 2021:

From the Organ Historical Society Organ Atlas 2009 - The City of Cleveland and Northern Ohio:

Homer D. Blanchard of Oberlin believed that the Wirsching Organ Co. of Salem, Ohio rebuilt the Johnson β€œabout the turn of the [last] century,” adding a second manual with three ranks and extending the pedal compass from 13 to 27 notes. The case was extended at the rear by approximately 18” to accommodate the changes. Blanchard further theorized that Wirsching provided a new golden-oak front while retaining the the older, darker case sides, also postulating that what is likely the original Pedal Bourdon chest might have been located at the back of the organ, later moved to one side, with the newer Bourdon extension chest on the other side, thus requiring a wider front. Also, he believed that the Great Diapason was originally a tenor C rank, with a bass provided by Wirsching in the new facade (the facade pipes have 2/9 mouths, while the interior pipes have ΒΌ mouths). Wirsching provided a new mechanical action and located the Swell behind, not above, the Great.

Little has occurred since. An electric blower was fitted in the late 1920s, and at some point the tenor-C Trumpet disappeared. When the original reservoir leather failed, Blanchard introduced a new reservoir, retaining the 2 ¾” wind pressure. Blanchard’s work was contracted on September 1, 1959. In 1987 James Leek made additional repairs and fitted a new Trumpet on the original slide.


Database Manager on June 7th, 2009:

Rebuild of existing Wm. A Johnson organ of 1865, with the addition of three stops to the swell.

Related Instrument Entries: Wm. A. Johnson (Opus 195, 1865)

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