Radio City Broadcast Studio

1260 Avenue of the Americas at 50th Street
New York, N.Y. 10020
           
  Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 2180 (1934) formerly in Radio City Broadcast Studio - New York City (photo: David Junchen)
 
Click on image to enlarge
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 2180 (1932)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style: "Special 3-manual"
3 manuals, 14 ranks, curved console



The Wurlitzer organ that was installed in the Radio City Broadcast Studio has a factory date of October 11, 1932. Its Art Deco console shell, installed on a movable platform, was a 3-manual scale copy of the twin ebony 4-manual consoles in the Music Hall downstairs. Wurlitzer provided special chromatic chests for this organ, which included a 16' Viole d'Orchestre and 16' Oboe Horn in its unusual specification. The two chambers were side-by-side, covered by a decorative Art Deco black wooden screen.
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
  Contra Viole     Bass Drum, Band
16
  Contra Fagotto [Oboe Horn]     Bass Drum, Orchestral
16
  Bourdon     Cymbal
8
  Tuba     Great Octave
8
  Open Diapason      
8
  Tibia Clausa     Pedal 2nd Touch
8
  Solo String     Bass Drum, Band
8
  Cello     Tympani
8
  Oboe Horn     Cymbal
8
  Concert Flute     Chinese Gong

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
  Bourdon     Harp Celesta
16
  Vox Humana [TC]     Glockenspiel
8
  Brass Trumpet     Shuffle
8
  Tuba     Snare Drum, Roll
8
  Open Diapason     Tamborine
8
  Tibia Plena     Castanets
8
  Tibia Clausa     Chinese Block, Tap
8
  Clarinet     Chinese Block, Roll
8
  Krumet     Tom-Tom
8
  Solo String
 
  Accompaniment Octave
8
  Viole d'Orchestre
 
   
8
  Viole Celeste     Accompaniment 2nd Touch
8
  Quintadena
8
  Brass Trumpet
8
  Oboe Horn
8
  Tuba
8
  Concert Flute
8
  Open Diapason
8
  Vox Humana
8
  Viole d'Orchestre
4
  Octave
4
  Violin
4
  Tibia Plena     Glockenspiel
4
  Tibia Clausa     Cathedral Chimes
4
  Violin     Snare Drum, Roll
4
  Octave Celeste     Chinese Block, Tap
4
  Concert Flute     Triangle
4
  Vox Humana      
2
  Piccolo      

   

   
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Tuba
4
  Solo String
16
  Tibia Clausa [TC]
4
  Violin
16
  Contra Viole
4
  Octave Celeste
16
  Contra Fagotto
4
  Oboe Horn
16
  Bourdon
4
  Concert Flute
16
  Vox Humana [TC]
4
  Vox Humana
8
  Brass Trumpet
2 2/3
  Tibia Twelfth
8
  Tuba
2 2/3
  Twelfth
8
  Open Diapason
2
  Tibia Piccolo
8
  Tibia Plena
2
  Piccolo
8
  Tibia Clausa
2
  Fifteenth
8
  Clarinet
1 3/5
  Tierce
8
  Krumet
 
  Harp Celesta
8
  Solo String     Xylophone
8
  Viole d'Orchestre     Glockenspiel
8
  Viole Celeste     Cathedral Chimes
8
  Quintadena     Great Octave
8
  Oboe Horn      
8
  Concert Flute     Great 2nd Touch
8
  Vox Humana
16
  Tuba [TC]
4
  Clarion
8
  Brass Trumpet
4
  Octave
8
  Open Diapason
4
  Tibia Plena
8
  Solo String
4
  Tibia Clausa      

   

   
Solo (Manual III) – 61 notes
16
  Tuba [TC]
4
  Oboe Horn
16
  Tibia Clausa [TC]
4
  Concert Flute
16
  Contra Viole
4
  Clarion
16
  Contra Fagotto
4
  Tibia Plena
8
  Brass Trumpet
4
  Tibia Clausa
8
  Tuba
4
  Violin
8
  Open Diapason
4
  Octave Celeste
8
  Tibia Plena
4
  Concert Flute
8
  Tibia Clausa
2 2/3
  Tibia Twelfth
8
  Clarinet
2
  Tibia Piccolo
8
  Krumet
2
  Piccolo
8
  Solo String     Xylophone
8
  Viole d'Orchestre     Glockenspiel
8
  Viole Celeste     Orchestra Bells
8
  Quintadena     Cathedral Chimes

   

   
Tremulants: Main, Vox Humana, Solo, Tibia Clausa
 
Combinations (as originally installed):
All piston combinations are independent and are adjustable on setterboards in the blower room
10 single-touch combination pistons for each of the Accompaniment and Solo manuals
10 double-touch combination pistons for the Great Manual:
     • first touch Great manual only
     • second touch General, affecting Great, Accompaniment and Pedal, but not Solo
One Cancel piston for each manual
Tremulant Cancel Piston and Traps Cancel Piston centered above Solo manual
Three single-touch toe studs for Pedal combinations
Sforzando toe lever
One red indicator light each for Sforzando and Crescendo
Two balanced swell shoes, one for each chamber
One register Crescendo shoe, adjustable on board in console
           
Sources:
     Junchen, David L., comp. and ed. by Jeff Weiler. The WurliTzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History. Chicago: The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.
     Kaufmann, Preston J. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 3. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1995.
     South Mississippi Gold Coast Chapter–A.T.O.S. web site: http://atos.stirlingprop.com/

Illustrations:
     Weiler, Jeff. Console.