Chairmen of Temporary Committees Gale Libent .......................................Nominating The Organ Historical Society, Inc. 401 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 P.O. Box 2681 1, Richmond, Virginia 23261 Randall McCarty .............................. 1982 Convention 1622 Bellev ue Ave., Seat tle, WA 98122 with archives at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, Stephen Long ................................. 1983 Convention 18 Merria m Ave., Shrewsbury, and telephone at Lancaster, Pennsylvania: (717) 872-5190 MA 01545 Horner Blanchard, Dana Hull, Lawrence Trupiano .......... Bylaws Chairmen of Standing Committees The National Council F. Robert Roche ....................................Advertising 60Par k St reet , Taunt on, MA 02780 Officers Norman M. Walter ...............................Audio-Visual Culver Mowers ......................................President 25 WaterviewRd., West Chester, PA 19380 2371 SlatervilleRd. Box 130, Brookt ondale, NY 14817 Lawrence Trupiano .........................Chapter Coordinator George Bozeman ................................. Vice President 233 But ler St. Brookl yn, NY 11217 RFD 81, Deerfield, NH 03037 Alan Laufrnan ...........................Convention Handbook Goss B. Twichell .............................. , . , ....Treasurer P.O. Box 104, Harri sville, NH 03450 329 IhrigAve ., Wooster , OH 44691 Alan Laufrnan....................... , ..Convention Coordinator James McFarland .....................................Secretary P.O. Box 104,Harri sv ille, NH 03450 114 N. George St., Millersvil le, PA 17551 Horner Blanchard and Alan Laufman . .......Editorial Review Board Homer D. Blanchard ..................................Archivist David and Permelia Sears .........................Extant Organs 103 Griswol d St reet , Delaware, OH 43015 P.O. Box 61, Dunstable, MA 01827 Samuel Walter .................................Biggs Fellowship Councillors 161 Geor ge St., New Brunswic k, NJ 08901 Lawrence Trupiano ................................. , ..... 1982 233 But ler St., Brooklyn, NY 11217 Culver L. Mowers ...............................Harriman Fund 2371 Sl atervi lle Rd., Box 130, Br ookt ondale, NY 14817 Randall E. Wagner ....................................... 1982 Alan M. Laufman ............ Headquarters and Foundation Grants 427 Vermont Ave., Erie, PA 16505 P.O. Box 104,Harrisv ille, NH 03450 Dana Hull .............................. , ................ 1983 Dana Hull, ................. , ..................Historic Organs 1407 E. Stadium, Ann Ar bor, MI 48104 1407 E. Stad ium, AnnArbor, Ml 48104 Stephen Long ......................... , , . , ............... 1983 Charles Ferguson ..........................International Interests 18 Merriam Ave., Sh rewsbu ry, MA 01545 Box 44, E. Vassalboro, ME 04935 Kristin Johnson ......................................... , 1984 William T. VanPelt III ...........................Public Relations 4710 Dat ura Rd., Col umbia, SC 29205 Rt. 8, Box 404, GlenAl len, VA 23060 William Van Pelt III ...................................... 1984 Series Rt. 8, Box 404, GlenAl len, VA 23060 Earl Miller .... , . .. .. .. .. .. .. • . .. .. .. .Recital E p ip hany, 115 Jef fer son Ave., Danville, VA 24541 Homer D. Blanchard ...................Research and Publications THE TRACKER Staff 103 Griswold St., Delaware, OH 43015 Albert F. Robinson ......................................Editor 12 Ki ng'sHig hwayEast , Had d onfield, NJ 08033 Chapter Correspondents Donald R. Traser .....................................Publisher Alan Laufrnan....... ........................Boston Organ Club 128 S. Laurel St., Richmond , VA 23220 P.O. Box 104, Harrisville, NH 03450 F. Robert Roche ....................................Advertising Anne L. Kazlauskas ...........................Central New York 60 Park St., Taunt on, MA 02780 201 Ce nter St., It haca, NY 14850 Thomas A. Burrows ........... , ...............Chicago-Midwest 1621 B Sa l isburyCt., Whea ton, IL 60187 Peter T. Cameron ........................Greater New York City THE TRACKER is published four times a year by the Organ Historical 18 Stevens St., Methuen, MA 01844 Elizabeth Schmitt ..............................Greater St. Louis Society, Inc., a non-profit, educational organization. 1100Joyce, Rolla, MO 65401 Peter N. Ziegler ...................Hilbus (Washington-Baltimore) Annual membership dues (including THE TRACKER): Regular 14300Medwic k Ct., Upper Mar lboro, MD 20870 members $22.00 (over age 65, full-time students, and additional Joseph Corkedale.. .. .. .. .. .. .. Mid-Hudson member in a household $18.00); Contributing members $35.00; Sus- 17 Inni s Ave., Newbur gh, NY 12550 taining members $50.00; Patrons $1,00.00; Benefactors $2,50.00. Randall McCarty .............................Pacific Northwest In-stitutions and businesses may be non-voting subscribers at the 1622 Be llevue Ave., Seat tle, WA 98122 Manuel J. Rosales, Jr ...........................Pacific Southwest same rates. Foreign members and subscribers add $2.00. Back 160N . Glendale Bl vd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 issues of THE TRACKER are obtainable at $3.25 each or $12.50 per Mary Julia Royall ...............................South Carolina volume. Send membership dues, inquiries, and address changes to: 70 Ba y View Dr., Mt. Pleasant , SC 29464 The Organ Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 2681 1, Richmond, W. Patrick Cunningham ............................South Texas Virginia 23261. Make all checks payable to the Organ Historical 235 SharonDr ., Sa n Ant oni o, TX 78216 Society, Inc. James R. McFarland ............Tannenberg (Central Pennyslvania) 114 N. George St., Miller sville, PA 17551 Advertisers may address inquiries to the Advertising Chairman. William Van Pelt III ............................... , ... Virginia Rt. 8, Box 404, GlenAllen, VA 23060 Editorial correspondence and articles to be considered for pub-lication may be addressed to the Editor. Responsibility for facts and opinions expressed in articles rests upon the authors and not upon the Organ Historical Society, Inc. All material accepted for publication in THE TRACKER becomes the property of the Organ Historical Society, Inc., and cannot be returned. Material Advertise in THE TRACKER published in THE TRACKER may not be reproduced without permission of the Editor. Full Page $140.00 Eighth Page $35.00 THE ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY is not beholden to any Half Page 90.00 Business Card 12.00 commercial interest. There is no intention to discredit or recommend any existing organ manufactory or concern. No such information in- Quarter Page 56.00 Classified, 3CfWords 15.00 ferred or construed in any form may be used in advertising or for any 20% discount for 4 consecutive issues (with no changes) when commercial purpose. The Society will take all steps open to it to pre- accompanied by advance payment. Address copy and pay­ vent or prosecute any such use of its material, the name THE ment to Advertising Chairman: F. Robert Roche, P.O. Box TRACKER, or the name THE ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 971, Taunton, Mass. 02780. Copyright 1982 The Organ Historical Society, Inc. 2 Food For Thought ... An Editorial A statement by the British Pipe Organ Council provides us with a basis for this little tirade: Restoration or replacement? After a lifetime of service it is difficult to decide, as objective judgment is often hampered by sentiment. Consider the advantages of replacing an un- reliable instrument. It may be smaller if acoustics are allow- ed to determine location. Stops then speak effectively and quality materials keep actions working smoothly. Ideal location makes service easier and maintenance less fre- quent. Rebuilding absorbs at least half the cost of a new one, and may perpetuate bad siting or indifferent tone. Of course, restore an old instrument of worthy quality. A new organ could revitalise your music. The pipe organ is incom- Volume 26, Number 3 parable and an investment with low depreciation. Talk to Spring 1982 your organ builder. He is a professional. Many churches are faced with the problem of restoration or replacement, as numerous OHS members can testify. What advice should we give (provided we are asked for it!) as CONTENTS members of a Society which was founded on a principal of preservation7 4 Every situation is unique and there is no set of rules which apply. But first of all, a careful study of the existing instrument Why Dudley Buck Was Popular In His Day should be made by a competent and experienced organ builder. by William L. Degan 8 In the average church there is no one capable of doing this task. Ofttimes a local committee has developed sentiment for or Tracking Down The Oliver Holden Organ against the old organ and is determined to retain or replace it at by Albert F. Robinson all costs without consulting a professional adviser. They are thus vulnerable .to accepting the first bid for restoration or The Webber Correspondence - II 11 (worse) to yield to pressures both within and without for re- placement by a pipeless instrument. Expanding Webber's Correspondence 17 In our experience we have found that some organ builders, by Albert F. Robinson when asked to bid on the restoration of an instrument of reputable make, preferred to replace the organ withsame one of their A William King Discovered in Iowa own manufacture. In three citable instances, builders' bids in- 19 cluded the phrase "to replace or rebuild" at the cost either Americanby Vincent Organ E. Building Gilbert Documents In Facsimile way indicating that they were not interested in rebuilding the old organ. The situation