Dismantling the organ

Blacksburg Presbyterian project · April 2026

After signing the contract in January, the next three months were spent planning the project. This involved detailing and specifying the work carried out by the various subcontractors: the new mobile console, the new organ system, the new additional pipework and chests, and the restoration of the main chests and winding system.

Rendering of the instrument

The work started officially in the last week of April with the dismantling of the organ. Stephen Spake, the owner of Lincoln Pipe Organs in North Carolina, came up with two of his men, and the four of us had the organ out of the gallery in three days. Their work was excellent. I spent an additional day picking up the remaining larger pipes, cleaning up the gallery, and taking measurements of the floor frame.

Lincoln Pipe Organs team removing pipework from the Great division

Removal of pipes from the Great

Great main chest with toeboards removed

Great and Swell pipework removed

All components had to be lifted down over the balustrade

The Swell has been dismantled and the chest is down

All components went to my workshop in Rocky Mount safely.

About this project · Next: Cleaning and releathering begins →