Percy G. James Residence

Hollis Park Gardens
Hollis (Queens), N.Y. 11358


Organ Specifications:
Hollis Park Gardens, Hollis
► II/12 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 4431 (1926)
73 Union Hall Street, Jamaica
• II/9 M.P. Möller, Inc., Op. 1653 (1914)


Percy G. James was born in Brooklyn in 1872, and in 1899 settled in Jamaica, Queens, where he opened a small hardware store at Jamaica Avenue and Washington Street. By the time he retired in 1929, the business had expanded to twelve hardware stores. Mr. James was the president of the board of trustees of Jamaica Hospital, and in 1912 was largely responsible for raising $1,000,000 to benefit that institution. He was also the founder of the 4th Ward Men's Hospital Association. He was active in civic affairs, serving as the president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens. Mr. James was married to Ida W. James, and he died on April 24, 1941.
           
M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4431 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 19 registers, 11 stops, 12 ranks


In the contract dated July 1, 1926, the M.P. Möller Company agreed to remove and rebuild their Op. 1653, located in the residence of Mr. Percy G. James, 73 Union Hall Street, Jamaica, L.I., and erect it in the new residence at Hollis Park Gardens, Hollis, N.Y. Möller was to furnish a new detached console, reusing "the present pedal board, frame, keys and stop action as far as they will go," and would install a new electric action and overhaul the chests and pipes. Möller enlarged Op. 1653 with the addition of a three-rank Echo Division, and provided a new case with gold bronze display pipes, and a ceiling grill for the Echo. Total cost of the work was $2,400.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Open Diapason *
61
4
   Rohr Flute *
73
8
   Oboe Gamba *
73
8
   Echo Salicional *
73
8
   Clarabella *
73
8
   Dulciana *
73
 
   
 
   
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Oboe Gamba
GT
8
   Dulciana
GT
8
  Clarabella
GT
8
   Vox Celeste * (TC)
49
4
   Rohr Flute
GT
8
  Vox Humana *
61
8
   Echo Salicional
GT
  Tremolo
               
Echo Organ (playable from Great keyboard) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Muted Viole II ranks
134
4
   Violina (fr. Muted Viole)
—
8
   Flute
73
8
  
Vox Humana
preparation
4
   Flute (fr. 8')
—
  Tremolo
               
Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed
16
   Bourdon *
30
        
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt (low-press.)
—
    
* pipes retained from M.P. Möller, Op. 1653
               
Couplers
    Swell to Swell 16', 4'   Echo 'on' Great 'off'
    Great to Great 16', 4'   Great to Pedal
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Swell to Pedal
    Echo to Great    
               
Mechanicals
    Great to Pedal Reversible   Swell Expression Pedal
    Crescendo Pedal   Echo Expression Pedal
               
Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Great, Echo & Pedal
    Pistons No. 1-2-3 affecting Swell & Pedal
           
Organ installed in residence at 73 Union Hall Street, Jamaica, Queens:

M. P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1653 (1914)
Tubular-pneumatic action?
2 manuals, 9 ranks


Although the original specifications of this organ have not yet been located, it would seem that Op. 1653 had the same stop list as Op. 4431 minus the three-rank Echo Division.
           
Sources:
     Jamaica Hospital Medical Center website: http://www.jamaicahospital.org
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of Möller Organ, Op. 4431 (1926).