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The Beast in the Basement (Leon Berry's Wurlitzer)
(905 total words in this text)
(383 reads)
Here's a transcript of the text of the article written by John Shanahan, in "the Kinura" Vol. 11, No. 10 (September/October 1957). I've left the incorrect "Harp Chrysoglotte" terminology in; also note that the reference to the Rose Wood tablet for the Xylophone is probably actually referring to a Robert-Morton tablet, which would be a brown mottled cocobolo color, and which generally had an "X" at the tip as an abbreviation.
As Usual, Click any image for a larger version!
the KINURA Feature Organ
The NEW Beast in the Basement
by Johnnie Shanahan
The NEW Beast in the Basement or the Leon Berry Residence organ is new due to the addition of the stop bolster of the "'old" two manual Hub Roller Rink console which is now scrapped for parts, the WurliTzer Harp Chrysoglotte, WurliTzer Spun Brass Saxophone set, and a set of tuned temple, or Elephant bells made in Pakistan.
The stop bolster addition increased the number of tabs from 50 to 72 which provided much more unification and tone variation which all make for a different sound. The Harp is a wonderful stop that gives an echo like touch that helps do away with the quick end of sound at the release of a note that is prevalent with other home or basement installations.
The sound of the Brass addition doesn't have to be described to anyone who has ever heard a set of Saxophones in Brass. Also I forgot to mention the addition of a 12 note set of WurliTzer Metal Diaphones that add a punch to the pedal section that was really needed as the only 16' stop before was the Bourdon, or as the stop calls it, the Double Flute, that spoke too slowly for use in fast numbers. Another new addition is a Kimball Sand Block unit that is very good as a brushed Snare Drum effect.
The Pakistan Bells are similar to Glockenspiels but have the ring of a set of chimes. They are struck with a single stroke modified Chime action.
Here I have described an organ with a tremendous percussion system and have made short notice of the pipework and some people are saying "Well, that's typical of Leon Berry--- all percussion and little pipes," but here's where they are wrong. The NEW Beast has been given special attention in the pipe department. First, the organ is now under expression; a feature that wasn't in full operation for the Replica recording.
Second, the beautiful spotted metal Quintadena has been set up in a beautifully finished Holtkamp Chest in front of the shades and is not under expression.
A rearrangement of the chests has placed the more powerful stops to the rear of the chamber and the softer ones towards the front thus tonally balancing the organ to the best advantage.
Novel features are the Bass Drum Soft which is a tympani roll at single stroke with the mallet wrapped in felt. The Xylophone tab on the Great, or rather Solo, manual is made of Rose Wood to match the wood of the bars, and instead of the usual pitch number there is an X, All these new features and sounds can be heard on Leon's forthcoming Audiophile recording soon to be released.
In the specifications, I would like to add that where the stop Double Trumpet appears, the last 12 pipes are the metal Diaphones and vice versa in the pedal--- the Diaphone 16' represents only the last 12 pipes whereby the rest are the Trumpets.
Although the actual tabs read differently, the stop list here is what they actually operate from the left side to the right of the connsole, Photos of this organ are shown on the front cover and on Page 22,
SPECIFlCATIONS
2-7 WURLITZER UNIT ORCHESTRA
Leon Berry Residence,
Norwood Park, Illinois
PEDAL ORGAN
16 DIAPHONE (Metal)
16 DOUBLE FLUTE
8 SAXOPHONE
8 TRUMPET
8 TIBIA CLAUSA
8 CELLO
8 FLUTE
BASS DRUM
BASS DRUM SOFT
CRASH CYMBAL
BAND CYMBAL
TRIANGLE
ACCOMPANIMENT ORGAN
Blank Tab
16 DOUBLE FLUTE
8 SAXOPHONE
8 TRUMPET
8 TIBIA CLAUSA
8 VIOLIN
8 ORCHESTRAL OBOE
8 QUINTADENA
8 HARP CHRYSOGLOTTE
8 FLUTE
4 TIBIA PICCOLO
4 QUINTADENA OCTAVE
4 OBOE OCTAVE
4 HARP CHRYSOGLOTTE
4 FLUTE
2-2/3 TWELFTH
2 FLUTE PICCOLO
SNARE DRUM
TAMBORINE
CASTANETS
CHINESE BLOCK
SAND BLOCK
SOLO ORGAN
16 TC SAXOPHONE
16 DOUBLE TRUMPET
16 TC TIBIA CLAUSA
16 DOUBLE FLUTE
8 SAXOPHONE
8 TRUMPET
8 TIBIA CLAUSA
8 VIOLIN
8 ORCHESTRAL OBOE
8 QUINTADENA
8 HARP CHRYSOGLOTTE
8 FLUTE
4 CLARION
4 TIBIA PICCOLO
4 QUINTADENA OCTAVE
4 OBOE OCTAVE
4 SALICET
4 HARP CHRYSOGLOTTE
4 FLUTE
2-2/3 TIBIA TWELFTH
2 TIBIA PICCOLO
1-3/5 TIBIA TIERCE
X XYLOPHONE
GLOCKENSPIEL
PAKISTAN BELLS
BACK RAIL
--PEDAL--
ACCOMPANIMENT TO PEDAL
SOLO TO PEDAL
--ACCOMPANIMENT--
16 SUB OCTAVE
UNISON OFF
4 OCTAVE
--ACCOMPANIMENT SECOND TOUCH--
8 SAXOPHONE
4 TIBIA CLAUSA
TRIANGLE
XYLOPHONE
--SOLO--
CATHEDRAL CHIMES
16 SUB OCTAVE
4 OCTAVE
TREMULANT
EFFECTS on Toe Pistons
KLAXON
SIREN
HORSES HOOFS
SURF
BELL
LOCOMOTIVE WHISTLE
BIRD SONG
ORIENTAL GONG
ADDITIONAL DATA
The Accompanimental Second Touch tabs are operating as pistons at present until the under manual buttons can be expanded from the present 3 per manual to 5. There are 2 for accompaniment and 2 for the solo.
There is a bell button set in the right-hand cheek of the accompaniment manual.
Specifications and photos by Johnnie Shanahan, Chicago, ILL
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