Reports to the Congregation

April 2011

It has been a hard winter (for Southern California!), and a lot of work has been done during the cold, rainy season.  The front chamber was completely gutted beginning in November 2010--- "down to the studs."  As expected, there was no insulation at in the walls, and only a thin single coat of plaster and 1/4" plywood covered the original studs.  Framing irregularities were fixed, a roof-draining pipe had to be repaired, a waterproof barrier was installed above the ceiling, and the walls were complete re-done to create hard sound-reflecting surfaces.

The closeable shutters from the south wall of the chamber were moved to an enlarged opening in the east wall, and the south wall was sealed up after very thick insulation was added.

On March 16, a 19-foot scissor lift was brought into the Sanctuary (driven by none other than Pastor Dan Hooper!) to lift pipe chest and air reservoirs into the completed chamber.  Mr. Harris began work immediately to wire this new hardware into the Reuter console in the Nave.

Late March 2011: The resized front opening, without its customary grill or shutters, allows us to see the first pipes in place.

As soon as the chamber work was completed, sexton Abilio Salguero and volunteers turned their attention to the floor of the Chancel, where carpet had been removed months before.  By April 6, the first music was heard from both chambers (front and rear) in what truly should be called "Surround Sound."  And the travertine marble was being installed in the Chancel.

Travertine marble partially installed in the Chancel, April 8, 2011. A 20" wide step now wraps around the great arch over the Altar apse.

Fall 2010

The deinstallation of "Miss Wheezie" was timed to begin after Reformation Day, October 31, 2010.  In the first days of November, a 1-ton scissor lift was driven into the Sanctuary---over extra thicknesses of plywood---to reach the front chamber and remove everything:  pipes, chests and air reservoirs.   Below, Pastor Dan is driving the scissor lift; he is somewhat experienced, having also operated the equipment inside the Nave of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in 2009, and again in the back of our Nave in the fall of 2010.

As each piece came out it became more obvious that Miss Wheezie's parts were in disrepair.  Volunteers could see for thmeselves the payers of duct tape covering over old air leaks in the leather gussets!

Summer 2010

After a hiatus of nearly one year, the Church Council made the determination in April 2010 to move ahead with the organ project.  "It's now or never," many said, since we had already invested considerable design work, funds and refurbishing to make the organ a reality.

A contract was signed with Mr. Weston Harris in May 2010 to complete the work of integrating sysems and pipe work from what has now become 4 different organs into one concert-worthy instrument.

As part of the acoustic refurbishment, the chancel's plush blue carpet was removed to reveal, not beautiful oak floors but unfinished fir floors, full of odd patches and holes from previous remodels.  It was clear that the space had always been carpeted, generation after generation.  In the photo below, "everything must go"--the console (replaced in a different position with the Reuter console), the lectern (wrong position) and lovely low walls of oak paneling (to be repositioned and reused).

The first worship service featuring the pipe ranks of the rear chamber were first heard on Christmas Eve 2010.

January 2009

Work began in earnest to convert an unused tower storage room into an organ chamber.  This involved creating an opening for sound to speak into the nave, removing heating ductwork, changing the floor level, and doubling the thickness of the walls to accomodate very thick insulation (excessive heat and cold cause a pipe organ to go out of tune easily).  Wall, ceiling and floor surfaces were refurbished to create a tight, waterproof and sound-reflecting surface.

September 2008

November 2007

Following is the Report given to the congregation to inform its vote on November 18, 2007.  You can also download the report in PDF format (4 pages).

Our pipe organ needs serious help! Research began in May 2006 on the best solution to its deteriorating condition. In early 2007 an Organ Committee was formed: Eldon Turner, Janet Weber, Susan Tapia, Pastor Dan Hooper, Ray Huff, Phyllis Lundine, Marie Sorensen and Ron Jahn.

History. The 6-rank pipe organ was acquired used in the late ‘20s or early ‘30s from the Warner Bros. Theater in Hollywood. It was designed for background music in silent movies, not for church music.

Present Condition is poor. Our technicians and tuners identified needed repairs that will cost thousands of dollars in any case.

• "Dead" or cyphering notes (won’t shut off) because old valves have failed.
• Expression shutters work inconsistently and need repair.
• Air leaks everywhere!  Wind chests are held together with duct tape.
• Frequently out of tune because of temperature swings in the present organ chamber
• Limited and inappropriate sound due to its theater organ history
• Console lacks many standard switches and features.

The Organ Committee met with several consultants and organ builders. We considered many options (do nothing; abandon the organ if it dies; make minimal repairs; replace with electronic instrument; refurbish/restore and enhance pipe organ). We also followed up on leads with other churches that are replacing instruments, going out of business, selling their pipe organ, or scaling back.

Specifically, we went to First Methodist in Sylmar, Chinese Life Lutheran in Alhambra, Full Grace (formerly Bethany Lutheran) in Hollywood. We investigated other instruments, or sets of pipework, for sale.  The Committee has reported frequently to the Church Council.

Conclusions: Following up on leads that another church was selling its entire pipe organ (to replace it with a $700,000 instrument), the Church Council accepted the Organ Committee’s recommendation to purchase the 22-rank Reuter pipe organ from Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.

Our best estimate is that it will cost around $80,000 to dismantle, move and reconstruct the 22-rank Reuter organ, integrating it with pipework from our 6-rank Landon/Wurlitzer.

The resulting instrument would be 28 ranks or more (if a few additional parts are installed to balance the sound quality).

To hold this larger instrument, a second organ chamber is needed.

First Design Concept:

Below, on the Sanctuary’s front (west) wall, the grill at left has nothing behind it. The present pipe organ is behind the grill at right. The Design Concept is to create a second chamber on the left side.

On the exterior, the existing chamber is at left (north side of Altar apse) in the photos below. There is no existing room on the right (south side of apse). The white star ☆indicates location of the proposed chamber above the Sacristy.

In September, our Council decided to purchase this instrument. It becomes available to us in May 2008. The Treasurer has opened an Organ Fund to raise money. Over $4,000 of the needed $5,000 has already been received.

Time Table Elements (times are approximate):