A 1936 WURLITZER CINEMA PIPE ORGAN serial number OPUS 2200 o...

Hammer

£3,700

A 1936 WURLITZER CINEMA PIPE ORGAN serial number OPUS 2200 originally shipped to the UK on 16th October 1936 and installed in the Granada Cinema, East Ham, London, the organ consisted originally of 8 ranks of pipes, these being Tibia Clausa, Diaphonic, Diapason, Clarinet, Trumpet, Vox Humana, Flute, Violin and Violin Celeste, In addition it has a Tuned Xylophone, Glockenspiel and Vibraphone as well as various other percussion effects such as Bass drum, snare drum and cymbals along with sound effects for film such as bird whistle, train whistle, fire gong etc. Since its install some changes have been made to this instrument including new keyboard replaced after bomb damage in 1944, in the 1960s the violin and celeste ranks were replaced by Gambas, although the present owner has returned these back to original, the Clarinet rank has been changed for a Kinura and the piano section changed for an electronic version. The console was resprayed by David Thorpe of Ashbourne to an amazing standard. This organ was removed from the its East Ham home in 1975 and reinstalled is a novelty item at a railway station on a miniature railway in Kessington, Suffolk before passing through the hand of two further owners who despite spending much time and monies refurbishing parts of the organ but never succeeding in getting it playing again. The present owner, after much persuading by The Birmingham Odeons master cinema organist Steve Tovey, saved the instrument from slowly deteriorating in a container in November 2000. It was transported and craned into its new home, a purpose built mini theatre at his home. During 2001 it was lovingly restored and rebuilt with Steve Tovey' guidance and the assistance of The Cinema Organ Societies Cameron Lloyd. This mini theatre opened in November 2001 (almost 65 years after its original appearance) and since has been played by most of the UKs top organists and enjoyed by audiences up until 5 years ago. This organ is still in working order and still in situ at this Cannock based mini Theatre which is attached to the present owners home. (please keep an eye out for our Social Media to see him demonstrate its awesome sound) PLEASE NOTE BEFORE BIDDING FOR THIS ITEM it is a very large and complicated instrument that will require a certain amount of expertise and knowledge to remove from its present position, a crane and at least four strong men will be required to remove the 209cm wide, 153cm deep and 155cm high console, through a window and over/ between two residences (see pics for situation), safely and without property damage. The pipe ranks and volume shutters are currently built into a room behind the console which is 307cm wide and 365cm deep room which is 360cm high (and it is full of these pipe ranks) the relay banks and three phase blower unit is in the garage behind this room (they will be heavy but these are the only things that are easily accessible) The property where this is installed is at the end of a Cull de Sac in Cannock, Staffs.