Providing the highest quality pipe organ services to the Atlanta and the Southeast since 2003
Mount Barry Chapel - Berry College
Mount Berry Chapel Estey Opus
The pipe organ in the Martha Berry College Chapel began it's life as Estey Opus #3009, built in 1931 for the Fairchild Chapel of Oberlin College in Ohio. When we first encountered the Estey POSS instrument, it was suffering from both poor maintenance as well as a lack of care for sometime. Previous firms entrusted with caring for this pipe organ would often not fix simple, easily correctable problems in preference of attempting to sell the college on much more expensive and unnecessary repairs.
Upon our first visit in the late summer of 2005, we found an instrument that had not been tuned in sometime, many dead notes, wood pipe stoppers in need of repacking, many ciphering notes, and two swell engines that did not function. In addition to those issues, a previous service firm had recommended the replacement of the organ blower, at an estimated cost in excess of $10,000. Our inspection of the blower found no serious issue, and with simple adjustment of the wind regulation valve, the wind supply to the organ was improved.
During that first visit, we performed a throrugh inspection and a full tuning of the organ. When the organ was freshly tuned, its true character and ability began to show through despite its problems. After that visit, I created a status report of needed repairs and known problems and sent it to the Chaplin's Office.
Happily, in early 2006, we were contracted by the College to perform some basic, restorative repairs. In two days we were able to releather all stoppers for the wood pipes for improved tone production and tuning stability. In addition we addressed all known electrical issues; including ciphers, dead notes, the swell engines and tremolo. After a short period of work, we are proud to say that every note in the organ now plays, and only when they are supposed to! Also the entire Swell division has returned to its true Swell status with the two expression engines having been repaired and regulated. There are still small issues, but nothing that affects the reliabilty of the organ.
The organ in the College Chapel is now in very good working condition, and should be viewed as a viable, reliable instrument for the use of the College again. The tonal palette of the instrument is dominated by its early 20th Century, Estey Pipe Organ Company heritage. But the organ is quite capable of performing most any literature requested of it, especially Romantic period solo organ literature, and choral accompanying of any era.
It is our extreme pleasure to care for this fine pipe organ, and we take no small pleasure in helping return its playability. Pipe organs are our only passion, and we are proud to assist Berry College in the care of this instrument.