Society for the Preservation of Music Hall

When the construction crew moved out,
Ron Wehmeier moved in... and got right to work!


The installation of the ranks of the Mighty Wurlitzer is underway. These photos were taken November 21, 2008. Click on each image to enlarge it. Ron's goal is to have the organ installation and tuning complete in time for Christmas eve, 2009 -- 82 years to the day from the moment this organ was first heard in the RKO Albee Theatre in Cincinnati.

Looking into the first of two rooms -- the Solo Chamber-- containing ranks of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. On the right, you can see the doorway to the second room, the Main Chamber. Just inside the door, the ranks line the walls of the chamber, with the Solo 16' Tibia on the right, expression shades on the front wall, Tuba Mirabilis on the left. You see the toy counter with cymbals, tambourine, castanets, wood block, triangle, bass drum, snare drum, gong, train bell at bottom, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba, Chimes, and tuned Sleigh Bells. The area between the Open Diapason, Tuba Mirabilis and Tibia.
Looking into the first of two rooms
-- the Solo Chamber -- containing ranks
of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. On
the right, you can see the
doorway to the second room, the Main Chamber.
Just inside the door, the ranks
line the walls of the chamber, with the
Solo 16' Tibia on the right,
expression shades on the front wall,
Tuba Mirabilis on the left.
You see the toy counter with cymbals, tambourine, castanets, wood block, triangle, bass drum, snare drum, gong, train bell at bottom, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Marimba, Chimes, and tuned Sleigh Bells.
The area between the Open
Diapason, Tuba Mirabilis and Tibia.
       
In the second room, the Main Chamber, against the wall between the two chambers, are the 16' Bourdon,8' Flute, and above the door the 8' Salicional, with the bass pipes of the Classical 8' Open Diapason, behind the 8' Flute. 16' Bourdons, 8' Flute, with Diapason behind, and the expression shades on the right. Ron demonstrating how one of the 44 expression shades, opens into the ballroom from each chamber. The 16' Wood Diaphones to the right, on the back wall of the Main Chamber, VDO & Celeste in center, 8' Tibia to the left with 16' Tuba behind.
In the second room, the Main Chamber, against the wall between the two chambers, are the 16' Bourdon,8' Flute, and above the door the 8' Salicional, with the bass pipes of the Classical 8' Open Diapason, behind the 8' Flute.
16' Bourdons, 8' Flute, with Diapason behind, and the expression shades on the right.
Ron demonstrating how one of the 44 expression shades, opens into the ballroom from each chamber.
The 16' Wood Diaphones to the right, on the back wall of the Main Chamber, VDO & Celeste in center, 8' Tibia to the left with 16' Tuba behind.
       
Ron standing next to the 1,700 lb. 15 HP organ blower, located 100' from the chambers, in room designed for 70 degrees and 40 percent humidity at al times. There's proper filtration and climate control equipment... and dedicated HVAC to keep everything just right. A look at the front of the chambers, with ornamental gold ornament from the Albee Theater as a crown at the top. The rest of the iron grille, is being custom made, to cover the entire front of the organ chambers, and will match the Albee artifact.
Ron standing next to the 1,700 lb. 15 HP organ blower, located 100' from the chambers, in room designed for 70 degrees and 40 percent humidity at all times.
There's proper filtration and climate control equipment...
and dedicated HVAC to keep everything just right.
A look at the front of the chambers, with ornamental gold ornament from the Albee Theater as a crown at the top. The rest of the iron grille, is being custom made, to cover the entire front of the organ chambers, and will match the Albee artifact.

See images of the construction and installation in the Music Hall ballroom.
     
 

Get information on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ

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