Keller-Organ (1875) in Usingen-Kransberg

Restoring historical organs

Builder

Keller Bros., Limburg on Lahn

Year of building
1876

Soundboard and action system

Suspended valve with mechanical key action and pneumatic stop action

History

	1917/18: Confiscation of the front pipes, replacement in zinc at an unknown later date
	1960s: Repair by an organ builder unknown
	about 1970: no longer in use

Restoration 1995
Work executed on the spot with the exception of the metal pipes

	Wind supply: Repair of the reservoir bellows. Installation of a wind trunkfrom the interior of the church to the motor in the tower
	Console:new covering of the keys with ivory sheets. New covering of the pedalboard with oak
	Action (key action):Replacement of broken trackers. Complete new adjustment Utmost diminution of of the depth of touch of the manual. Replacement of tired springs.
	Pneumatic (stop action): Sealing of the pneumatic tubes.Replacement of all small slider motors (copies and original ones).
	Soundboard: C leaning.
	Metal pipes: Reconstruction of the front display. Replacement of not original pipes in the mixture of reconstructions. Beating out of original pipes.
	Wooden pipes: Gasing of woodworms. Gluing of cracks, partly covering the faceboard with leather.
	(unbenannt)

Historic value, exceptional features

	Very rare system of soundboard: Suspended valve layout similar to the "Hundeck´s layout (cf. Hermann Fischer: 100 Jahre Bund deutscher Orgelbaumeister 1891-1991, Orgelbau-Fachverlag Rensch, Lauffen a. N. 1991, Schnittzeichnung S. 113),however, with single grooves which are situated in small distances side by side (about 1 cm for the manuals, about 15 cms for the pedalboard. Changing division of the register for both manuals.
	Astonishingly safe functioning and durability of the soundboard. In 1995 there was essentially only a cleaning of the soundboard necessary. A spot check by opening a groove showed that the valves are in a perfect condition.
	Very early use of the pneumatic system, here only for the stop action. Evidently a Keller Bros.´ production of their own. No lead chimneys, but thumb-sized cardboard chimneys.

Querschnitt durch zwei Registerkanzellen -

Disposition

Kanzelle		I. Manual, C-f'''
1		Prinzipal	8'		C-E Nadelholz, offen. Keller 1876. F-ds' im Prospekt, 78 % Zinn, 1995 rekonstruiert. e'-f''' innen, Zinn/Blei, Keller 1876.
3		Bordun	16'		C-f''' Nadelholz, gedeckt, Keller 1876.
4		Gamba	8'		C-H Nadelholz, offen. c°-f''' Zinn/Blei. Keller 1876.
6		Hohlflöte	8'		C-H Nadelholz, gedeckt. c°-f'' Nadelholz, offen. fs''-f''' Zinn/Blei, offen. Keller 1876.
9		Rohrflöte	4'		C-f''' mit langen Röhrchen. Keller 1876.
2		Octave	4'		C-Ds und Fs+G im Prospekt, 78 Zinn, 1995 rekonstruiert. E+F und Gs-f''' innen, Zinn/Blei, Keller 1876.
11		Octave	2'		C-f''' Zinn/Blei, Keller 1876.
13		Cornett 3fach			Ab c', 2 2/3' + 2' + 1 3/5'. Zinn/Blei. Keller 1876.
12		Mixtur 4fach	2 2/3'		Quintrepetitionen auf c°, c', c'' und c'''. Zinn/Blei. Keller 1876 bis auf einige1995 rekonstruierte Pfeifen in der dreigestrichenen Oktave.

		II. Manual, C-f'''
5		Salicional	8'		C-h° Nadelholz, offen. c'-f''' Zinn/Blei, leicht konisch. Keller 1876.
8		Flauto dolce	8'		C-H Nadelholz, gedeckt. c°-f'' Nadelholz, offen. fs''-f''' Zinn/Blei, offen. Keller 1876.
7		Gedackt	8'		C-h° Nadel- und Eichenholz. c'-f''' Zinn/Blei, Eichenholzspunde. Keller 1876.
10		Flöte	4'		C-H Nadelholz, offen. c°-f''' Zinn/Blei, konisch offen. Keller 1876.

		Pedal, C-d'
14		Principalbass	8'		Nadelholz, Keller 1876.
15		Subbass	16'		Nadelholz, Keller 1876.
16		Violon	16'		Nadelholz, Keller 1876. Die Violon-Pfeifen bilden die Gehäuserückwand.

		Spielhilfen
		I-Ped.			Als Tritt.
		II-I			Als Tritt.
		Tutti			Als Tritt.

© Oberlinger Bros. Oranbuilders Ltd., Hauptstraße 50, D-55452 Windesheim
Updating: March 20th 2007

Druckbare Version

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