Peterborough Wurlitzer Site
The Installation
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A number of
venues to house the organ were considered, but were found to be unsuitable,
until the offer of the Main Hall in the Peterborough Technical College (now
Regional College) was made. This was made possible mainly thanks to the keen
interest shown in the project by the then Principal of the college., Mr John
A. McIntyre. Installing
the Wurlitzer was an enormous task, as the hall was not built with this in
mind. However, detailed plans were drawn up to create what was effectively
three rooms, to contain the works of the instrument, comprising of the
Pipework Chamber, Blower and Relay rooms. In addition, the organ console was
positioned on a lift below the stage floor, enabling it to rise, under the
command of the organist to full view of the audience, in the traditional way familiar to cinema audiences
of the Thirties and Forties. The task to install the Wurlitzer in the college and to restore it to
first class condition was completed in March, 1981,
when the opening concert was performed by John Mann. The Organ Crew as they
were known spent many hundreds of hours preparing for this event. It is a testimony to the
dedication of the Crew and other helpers that most of them are still
associated with the Society today - 20 years later |
