Dear Stuart:

This is a follow up on our telephone chat of Oct. 29th last. Since that was my brother's wedding day we were rather busy for the rest of the time, and then we had to leave the next day so I am sorry that we were not able to meet. However, there will no doubt be other opportunities.

Since then we have been able to close in the music room temporarily, so that we were able to start installation of the organ. We have been able to set up the framework, the 16' Open Wood on its chest at the back, the bellows, then the six manual chests and the swell boxes. It was a lot of work because all that stuff was heavy, whew! It didn't seem so heavy when I took it out 5 years ago, so I guess I am just getting older.

There is, of course, a great deal of work to be done, I have to electrify the Solo chest and all the stop action boxes, except the Choir, which I had set up and playing in my workshop. Then there is all the trunking to do, wind control boxes to make, cleaning up the chests and repairing the pouch boards, and then, day of days, start setting in the pipes --- which will need a good cleaning, especially the reeds.

I have to get a console somewhere, too, I have a three manual Casavant electric which works, but it will not be nearly large enough for this organ when and if it is complete. It shouldn't take too long, once we have enough good weather to enable us to work. The music room is 26 feet from the house, and will have to be joined to it, but have not had time to do this work this summer. I have had to do a lot of this work myself, as a building this size is expensive, and I am not rich, being a farmer.

Besides this, my father bought a nice little one manual and pedal job, oak casework, from the Masonic Temple in Saskatoon, the Masons having sold their old building. I shall have to set this up in readiness for sale, as father has a nice 8 rank 2 manual in his home in Saskatoon. So if you hear of any likely prospects, let me know. It has three ranks, Stopped Diapason, Open Diapason T.C. and Aeoline, plus Pedal Bourdon 16' . Not perhaps ideal, but I can remember the day when I would have been glad to have it, and wouldn't mind it yet, for a practice organ. I think he wants $1400 for it, installed.

You asked for the stop list of my organ, so will give it to you. Of course, our ideas have changed since then and this will be by no means the final outcome.

Casavant # 301, additions #696

Original installation in Grace Church in 1907, fire destroyed the Great and a new one was supplied, with chests and frame, in 1917. The rest of the organ protected by the Swell boxes.

Great Organ
1. Double Open            16            65 pipes
2. Open Diapason         8              "
3. Geigen Principal      8               "
4. Doppel Flute            8               "
5.  Gemshorn           8'         "
6.  Wald Flute         4'         "
7.  Principal          4'         "
8.  Fifteenth          2'         "
9.  Mixture   3 ranks         195 pipes
10. Trumpet            8'      65 pipes

Swell Organ

11. Bourdon            16'     61 pipes                 
12. Open Diapason      8'         "    
13. Stop'd Diapason    8'         "    
14. Claribel   Fl.     8'         "    
15. Viola da Gamba     8'         "     
16. Voix Celestes      8'      49 "     
17. Aeoline            8'         "      
18. Traverse Flute     4'         "      
19. Violina            4'         "
20. Fifteenth          2'         "          
21. Cornet 3 ranks     183        "          
22. Oboe               8'      61 "          
23. Contra Fagotto     16'        " 
24. Trumpet            8'         "  
25. Vox Humana         8'         "           
    Tremulant
      
Choir Organ
26. Violin Diapason    8'      61  
27. Melodia            8'         "
28. Dulciana           8'         "                   
29. Harmonic Flute     4'         "                                                
30. Flageolet          2'         "
31. Clarinet           8'         "
    Tremulant

Solo Organ
32. Stentorphone       8'      61 pipes
33. Quintadena         8'         "
34. Rohrflute          8'         "
35. Harmonic Flute     4'         "
36. Orchestral Oboe    8'         "
37. Cor Anglais        8'         "
38. Tuba               8'         "
    Tremulant

Pedal Organ
39. Open Dia. wood     16'     30
40. Open Metal (Gr)    16'
41. Bourdon            16'     30
42. Octave (ex-39)     8'      12
43. Flute (ex-41)      8'      12
44. Gedackt (Swell)    16'
45. Cello              8'      30
46. Fifteenth (ex-45)  4'      12
47. Trombone           16'     30
48. Trumpet (ex-47)    8'      12

Positiv Organ (to be added)
49. Gedeckt            8'
50. Principal          4'
51. Rohrflote          4'
52. Nazard            2-2/3
53. Tierce            1-1/3
54. Scharf            3 rks
55. Krumhorn          8'                  

Wind pressures
Solo        7 ins.
Positiv     2-1/2
Remainder   3-1/2 ins. 

I have the pipes for the Positiv, but no chest as yet, as it has to be specially made for the low pressure.

Nos. 1 to 48 are the present stops. They will be changed somewhat, I imagine. But I want to get the old girl going, first.

I may be able to get Fairhead next fall, to do some revoicing for me. Most likely I will be broke by then, for sure.

Lets hear from you, sometime we will have a get-together, perhaps next summer?

Regards,

Stuart