Lutheran Church of the Ascension

78-15 78th Street
Glendale (Queens), N.Y. 11385


Organ Specifications:
78-15 78th Street
► I/9 Hutchings, Plaisted & Co., Op. 75 (1875)
Lambert Street, corner Copeland Boulevard
► II/6 M.P. Möller, Op. 4943 (1927)
           
Hutchings, Plaisted & Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 75 (1875)
Mechanical action
1 manual, 7 stops, 9 ranks


The internal construction of this organ suggests that it was built in Boston around 1845, perhaps by Thomas Appleton or E. & G.G. Hook. It was a "G" organ; that is, the manual key compass started at the G below bottom C, omitted GT, and continued up to what is now f 54. The stoplist was similar to the present one, with an 8' Dulciana in place of the Quintadena, and an 8' Hautboy in place of the Sharp. The Stop Diapason Treble, like the present one, was a metal chimney flute, as was the 4' Flute.

In 1875, the organ was rebuilt by Hutchings, Plaisted & Co. of Boston, for the Congregational Church of York (Harbor), Maine. At that time, the pedalboard and pedal pipes were added; the original casework was replaced with the present black walnut case; the key compass was altered, omitting the bottom 4 notes (GG, AA, AA#, and BB) and adding the top 4 (f#''', g''', g#''', and a'''); and a new, projecting keydesk with round-shank flat knobs was provided.

Around 1959, the organ was dismantled and placed in storage. When it was obtained by Jeremy Cooper nearly 20 years later, it had suffered considerable damage but was carefully restored by Mr. Cooper.

excerpted from notes by Alan Laufman, President 1978-79, Organ Historical Society

               
Manual – 58 notes
8
   Open Diapason Treble [TC]
46
4
   Principal
58
8
   Stop Diapason Bass [TC]
12
4
   Flute
58
8
   Quintadena Treble
46
2
   Fifteenth
58
8
   Stop Diapason Bass
12
     Sharp, 3 ranks
174
               
Pedal– 27 notes
16
   Subbass
27
        
               
Mechanicals
    Manual to Pedal coupler    
    Hitch-down swell pedal    
           
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4943 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 11 stops, 6 ranks


The contract dated June 20, 1927, between the M.P. Möller Company and "The Senior Choir of Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Lambert St., Cor. Copeland Blvd., Glendale, N.Y." stated that the organ would cost $2,500. Möller provided a "console box to be large to admit additions in the future up to a $10,000 organ, by changing stop action only."

This organ was moved by Allen Dreyfuss in 1979 to Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Brooklyn.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason
61
4
   Flute d'Amour
SW
8
   Melodia
73
8
   Salicional
73
8
   Dulciana
73
        
 
     
 
     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
8
   Dulciana
GT
4
   Flute Traverso [Melodia]
GT
8
   Salicional
GT
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon *
30
        
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [low-press.]
—
      
               
Couplers
    Swell to Pedal   Swell to Swell 16', 4'
    Great to Pedal   Great to Great 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'    
               
Mechanicals
    Tremulant    
    Crescendo Indicator    
               
Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Great and Pedal Stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Swell and Pedal Stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
           
Sources:
     Laufman, Alan. The Keraulophon (Nov.-Dec.1979), pub. by New York City chapter of Organ HIstorical Society. Notes and specifications of Hutchings-Plaisted Organ, Op. 75 (1875). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 4943 (1927).