Rubin S. Frels
Opus 39, 1986

The Pilcher organ was built for the First Methodist Church of Paris, Illinois, and served there until it was removed by Rubin Frels in 1956. The original case stayed behind in Illinois. The stoplist was Gr. Open Diapason 8', Dulciana 8', Melodia 8', Octave 4', Flute D'Amour 4' , Fifteenth 2'; Sw. Bourdon Treble 16', Bourdon Bass 16', Violin Diapason 8' , Stopped Diapason 8' , Salicional 8', Celeste 8', Violina 4', Flute Harmonique 4', Piccolo 2', Oboe 8' , Bassoon 8'; Ped. Bourdon 16' , Open Diapason 8'. Over the years, Mr. Frels utilized most of the Pilcher pipework in other projects. In the meantime, he obtained most of the pipework of A. B. Felgemaker's Op. 895, 1906, built for St. Andrew's Reformed Church in Reading, Pennsylvania. The stoplist of that organ was similar to that of the Pilcher. The Great was identical; the Swell had an Open Diapason 8' instead of a Violin Diapason 8' , an Aeoline 8' instead of a Salicional 8', no Celeste 8' or Violina 4', a Dolce Comet III instead of a Piccolo 2', an Oboe Gamba 8' instead of an Oboe 8' and Bassoon 8', and a Pedal Floete 8' instead of an Open Diapason 8'.

By using much of the Felgemaker pipework, combined with other pipework both new and recycled, from various sources, Mr. Frels created a new instrument in the old style with mostly old materials. The keydesk, action, framework, swell box, and windchests are from the original Pilcher. The additional ,Pedal stops are on old slider chests, recycled from two different Moller tracker organs. Revoiced, rescaled, and repitched, the old pipework came from organs made by such firms as Aeolian, Austin, Hook & Hastings, Kimball, Moller, Pilcher, and an unidentified English builder! The Gr. Melodia 8', an original Pilcher stop, has cherry fronts and a stopped wood bass; the Octave 4' was the Sw. Open Diapason 8' in the Felgemaker; the Flute d' Amour 4' is of stopped wood with bored stoppers and open metal trebles; the Sw. Stopd Diapason 8', another original Pilcher stop, has cherry fronts from TC. The new casework was designed by Rubin S. Frels.
-- article from the 1988 OHS Handbook

Updated through on-line information from John Walko. -- I heard this organ on 12/7/07 and it seems to be in good condition; it is being maintained and tuned, although it is not used very often. An electronic organ is used more frequently.

On-line update from Timothy Tikker -- This organ went through a perod of disuse. One organist there was determined to replace it with an electronic, but he died before he succeeded. However, he left his electronic residence organ there and had used it instead. I'm not sure which instrument is presently used -- probably the electronic.

Status Note: There 1995

From First Methodist, Paris, IL. Originally 2-17. Includes many pipes from Felgemaker Op. 895, 1906.

Uses chassis of 1903 Henry Pilcher's Sons Op. 445, built for First Methodist, Paris, IL. Removed from there by Rubin Frells 1956 (minus case). Much pipework from 1896 A. B. Felgemaker Op. 895.

This entry represents the installation of a 'new' organ created from recycled parts. The original builder was Henry Pilcher's Sons, Opus 445, 1903 from First Methodist Church in Paris, IL. [Originally 2-17]. Includes many pipes from A. B. Felgemaker Op. 895, 1906. The casework was built new.