1988 III/29 Peter Collins
Overhaul and rebuild 2019
The organ of St Oswald’s Church was built by Peter Collins in 1988 after a serious fire had destroyed the previous instrument. The organ is all-mechanical and in style was inspired by historical instruments on the Continent.
The organ has never quite reached its potential, however, due to a number of inherent design problems, and due to access difficulties in maintaining and repairing the instrument.
In 2019, we completed a major rebuild of the instrument. The aim of the work was to try to put right many of the challenges that have persisted since the organ’s construction, and to make the instrument more straightforward and safe to maintain in future. Our work included:
– repair of collapsing facade pipes
– improvements to stability and strength of passageboards
– modifying key action to allow better access to coupling mechanisms
– restoration of Subbass 16′ chest and ventil
– re-routing wind trunk to improve access to coupler beams
– re-palleting the Swell soundboard to address severe wind supply deficiencies
– re-leathering the Swell schwimmer unit
– fitting access panels to facilitate adjustment of schwimmer when in position
– re-gearing wind control for wedge bellows
– full cleaning, repair and regulation of all pipework, to be returned to the original Young’s temperament
– fitting access panels in Swell expression box to facilitate tuning
– restoration of keyboards
– restoration of pedalboard
– modifying angle of Swell expression pedal
– splaying outwards the combination pedal spacing
– improved stopping off of mechanical slider action
– repairs to Choir Tremulant
