Conacher & Company Established 1854 Pipe Organ Builders

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What to do when the builders move in...

Building Contractors' or Decorators' work inside a church or chapel puts the organ at risk.

In our experience dust always finds its way into the organ, and if it is not protected under the supervision of a qualified Organ Builder it is likely that actual damage will occur.

Damage is often caused by non-organ builders going into the instrument. Sometimes they do not even realise they have damaged the organ. Dropping a paintbrush, paint, plaster, mortar or water into the instrument can cause serious damage.

If the organ is not protected in accordance with a qualified organ builder's specification the Insurance Company may not accept any resulting claim.

The organ should be covered with plastic sheets, properly supported and taped as required. This work is most economically done by the Contractors, under the supervision of the organ builders who should be the only persons allowed in a pipe organ.

In some circumstances the Contractors need to work within or immediately above a pipe organ, and in such cases it may be necessary to remove some or all of the pipes. Sometimes it is necessary to remove organ parts, too.

Any pipes or parts that are left in the organ will need to be protected.

The removal of organ pipes and parts should be carried out only by qualified organ builders, who will need a safe, preferably adjacent, storage place.

At the completion of the Contractors' work the organ should be carefully unsheeted under the supervision of the organ builder, and great care should be taken not to drop any dust into the instrument.

When the organ is unsheeted it is likely that some additional abrasive dust will have found its way into the instrument. Even if the contractors have been very careful dust can find its way through all the sheeting and into the organ.

The instrument will need to be inspected by the organ builder, any simple and immediate fault overcome or corrected. If necessary a report will be submitted to the church.

If the organ needs to be cleaned it is strongly recommended that this work is carried out immediately so as to avoid undue wear to the moving parts and to safeguard the instrument's serviceable life.

Points to remember

1. Organs are easily damaged
2. Specialist repairs to organs are expensive
3. Only qualified organ builders should go inside organs
4. Only qualified organ builders should handle organ pipes
5. If any organ pipes are removed, they will need to be stored in a safe place
6. Sheeting and unsheeting should be supervised by organ builders
7. Dust finds its way through the smallest gaps, so when the organ is unsheeted it will need to be checked
8. Any abrasive dust left in the organ will speed up the wearing out of the actions
9. During the contractors' work, extreme changes in the Relative Humidity and temperature must be avoided.
10. If in doubt, call in the specialists.

© 1996- Conacher & Co.

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