Paris Presbyterian Church, Paris Ontario
S. R. Warren 1894 /1914       Pole and Kingham Restoration

The Warren organ has had three mechanical renovations since its installation as a tracker in 1894.

In 1914 the pipework was incorporated into a larger instrument, this time with pneumatic action.

The accompanying image of the Great Trumpet reed block shows that it was revoiced in 1914 by William Potter.

In 1952 the organ was electrified [converted to electropneumatic action] by Canada's main department store, The T. Eaton Company, which had an organbuilding division in Toronto.

In 1971 a replacement Moller console was installed.

By 2008, the accumulation of many mechanical problems and the fact that the stop actions of all five reed ranks were disconnected, led the church to seek advice on the future of the organ. Although others advised total replacement or, at the minimum, replacement of the windchests, Pole and Kingham felt that a fraction of that expense could be used in a basic restoration that repaired all the minor problems, improved access for tuning and maintenance, and gave the instrument a chance to show its beauty and, hopefully, reliability.

2009 Restoration:

• all pipes cleaned, repaired, and regulated
• wind pressures restored
• rackboards and racks repaired and strengthened
• note and stop actions repaired
• missing pipes replaced
• full chamber lighting system installed
• new access doors and ladders installed

The organ now can show its rich, warm character, and the action has proved to be reliable, although still operating on its original leather. The windchest has an unusual action, featuring individual pouch blocks under each pipe. Although the pitman stop action is grooved in the toeboard, the note action is a metal tube running across the chest clipped to bottom of the pouch blocks. This action is incredibly fast.

Specification: II/26 

Church Website:   www.parispresb.ca 

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