St. Andrew Catholic Church - Upper Arlington, OH - 3/35 Austin

St. Andrew Catholic Church
3/35 Austin

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Great Division

Swell Division

St. Andrew Catholic Church
Upper Arlington, OH
3/35 Austin
Opus 2771 - 1998

Under the Pipes!

Most people never get to see what's "under the hood" of an organ. The organ operation seems so simple: pull a knob or press a tab, then play a note on the keyboard. The result is a sound. So simple, yet the organ's construction (and its sound) can be so incredibly complex. There are different types of organ construction, and each organ builder does things just a bit different in their construction. The sound can also be vastly different between builders, and even between organs. It is said that no two pipe organs sound exactly the same. If you put the same organ in different rooms, or different organs voiced identically in the same room, each organ would have its unique characteristics and sound different.

The St. Andrew pipe organ was built by Austin Organs which has a unique, patented system called the Universal Air Chest to provide air to the pipes. Basically the air from the blower is pumped into a large room under the pipes. This is the "wind chest" for the pipes to draw from. This is different from all other builders who have chests for a rank or ranks of pipes. Check out the Austin web page on Universal Air Chest to learn more about how it works.

Click on the photo to get a larger image

	Here we are under the pipes inside the universal air chest under the pipes. There are two access doors to this area, one on each side of the organ. When the blower is running the vacuum is so tight that it is difficult to open the doors. In this photo we are under the center of the case. The wires are on the back side of the front of the case. On the floor we can see where the wires from the console come in this area.
	Here's a closer look at the vertical black strips seen in the photo above. Note that each rank is hand written on the block for identification purposes. The date of construction is also stamped.
	This photo was taken under the Swell Division. This gives us a better idea of the complexity of the organ from a mechanical standpoint.
	This is a view from the right side of the case looking towards the center. Here we can see some of the structural wood holding things up above. The large "chest" on the right is a regulator which expands and contracts depending on the needs of the organ in order to maintain constant wind pressure.
	Here is a better view of the regulator. This sits against the back wall of the organ. The regulator will expand and contract depending on the needs of the pipes. On the right side is a lever which applies pressure to the regulator.
	This photo gives a slightly better perspective of what's going on above. At the top of the photo are some round metal circles. Each of those is connected to a pipe. In the center of the metal circle is a wire. If that specific note is played on the manual it will send an electric charge through the wire in the center and open the valve of the pipe to allow the air to enter and play the note.
	Here's another look at the action for the ranks. Also towards the top are more round metal circles which again are pipes above.