Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ Opus 1730, was a Style F consisting of 8 ranks of pipework which was first installed in the 2000 seat Sydney Regent Theatre, Australia.
Tuba Horn 16' 85 pipes
Open Diapason 16' 85 pipes
Tibia Clausa 8' 73 pipes
Violin 8' 73 pipes
Viol Celeste 8' 73 pipes
Clarinet 8' 61 pipes
Vox Humana 8' 61 pipes
Flute 16' 97 pipes
Cathedral Chimes 25 notes
Xylophone 37 notes
Glockenspiel 37 notes
Sleigh Bells 25 notes
Chrysoglott 49 notes
Despite having thirty two 8' high blades of expression Opus 1730 as a standard 8 rank Style F was found to be inadequate (too soft) for a theatre of the Sydney Regent's size. Within a year the decision was taken to replace Opus 1730 with an almost double-the-size 15 rank Style 260. The Style 260 also had three 15" wind pressure ranks compared to the Style F's single 15" rank - the Tuba Horn.
In 1928/29 Opus 1730 was installed in the Plaza Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. The Plaza could seat 1235 patrons. At this time the decision was made to add four ranks plus a 16' Tibia extension from the Wurlitzer factory to Opus 1730's original Style F pipework to ensure maximum impact.
http://theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Victoria/Plazamelb.htm
The pipes added in 1928/29 were:
Brass Trumpet 8' 61 pipes
Orchestral Oboe 8' 61 pipes
Krumet 8' 61 pipes
Kinura 8' 61 pipes
Tibia 16' 12 pipes
During Opus 1730's time at the Plaza Theatre 'someone' decided to swap the Kinura and Krumet for a Wurlitzer Gamba and Oboe Horn.
In 1968 Opus 1730 was sold to TOSA South Australia (SA). TOSA SA installed this Wurlitzer in Wyatt Hall at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide, SA., where it remained a very successful theatre pipe organ installation for 34 years.
http://theatreorgans.com/southerncross/South%20Aust/Pulteney.htm
Due to the School's need to redevelop Wyatt Hall, Opus 1730 was pulled and packed into a 40' container in 2005. While Opus 1730 remained in its container in South Australia, TOSA SA removed the 2 manual console to be installed as the 2nd console for their 4 manual 29 rank Capri Theatre Wurlitzer.
In 2015 Opus 1730 was purchased by Rick Alabaster who, shortly before taking delivery, fell ill. Opus 1730 was then sold to Gordon McKenzie from Victoria. I acquired Opus 1730 from Gordon in June 2018.
I will restore and use many parts of Opus 1730 in my project. I hope to be able to keep what I own of of this Wurlitzer complete, as in the future a new owner might be able to re-unite the console with the remainder of this historic instrument.
Tuba Horn 16' 85 pipes
Open Diapason 16' 85 pipes
Tibia Clausa 8' 73 pipes
Violin 8' 73 pipes
Viol Celeste 8' 73 pipes
Clarinet 8' 61 pipes
Vox Humana 8' 61 pipes
Flute 16' 97 pipes
Cathedral Chimes 25 notes
Xylophone 37 notes
Glockenspiel 37 notes
Sleigh Bells 25 notes
Chrysoglott 49 notes
Despite having thirty two 8' high blades of expression Opus 1730 as a standard 8 rank Style F was found to be inadequate (too soft) for a theatre of the Sydney Regent's size. Within a year the decision was taken to replace Opus 1730 with an almost double-the-size 15 rank Style 260. The Style 260 also had three 15" wind pressure ranks compared to the Style F's single 15" rank - the Tuba Horn.
In 1928/29 Opus 1730 was installed in the Plaza Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. The Plaza could seat 1235 patrons. At this time the decision was made to add four ranks plus a 16' Tibia extension from the Wurlitzer factory to Opus 1730's original Style F pipework to ensure maximum impact.
http://theatreorgans.com/southerncross/Victoria/Plazamelb.htm
The pipes added in 1928/29 were:
Brass Trumpet 8' 61 pipes
Orchestral Oboe 8' 61 pipes
Krumet 8' 61 pipes
Kinura 8' 61 pipes
Tibia 16' 12 pipes
During Opus 1730's time at the Plaza Theatre 'someone' decided to swap the Kinura and Krumet for a Wurlitzer Gamba and Oboe Horn.
In 1968 Opus 1730 was sold to TOSA South Australia (SA). TOSA SA installed this Wurlitzer in Wyatt Hall at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide, SA., where it remained a very successful theatre pipe organ installation for 34 years.
http://theatreorgans.com/southerncross/South%20Aust/Pulteney.htm
Due to the School's need to redevelop Wyatt Hall, Opus 1730 was pulled and packed into a 40' container in 2005. While Opus 1730 remained in its container in South Australia, TOSA SA removed the 2 manual console to be installed as the 2nd console for their 4 manual 29 rank Capri Theatre Wurlitzer.
In 2015 Opus 1730 was purchased by Rick Alabaster who, shortly before taking delivery, fell ill. Opus 1730 was then sold to Gordon McKenzie from Victoria. I acquired Opus 1730 from Gordon in June 2018.
I will restore and use many parts of Opus 1730 in my project. I hope to be able to keep what I own of of this Wurlitzer complete, as in the future a new owner might be able to re-unite the console with the remainder of this historic instrument.