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The soundboards of the Farnborough Abbey organ are stripped down for full restoration. The interior is extremely dirty with black soot and dried mildew (the Boursettes were once white!). There are additional pallets in the Great Soundboard for the Pedal/Grand Orgue Transmissions

This week saw some of us in South Wales bringing two organs back into use after their period of enforced silence. The Griffen & Stroud organ in the sumptuous Cardiff Masonic Hall and the small but powerful Blackett & Howden organ in Whitland Tabernacle.

The remodelled console for Liverpool Philharmonic Hall takes shape in the factory. The Willis Pedalboard is pieced with Maple & Blackwood; New keys made using the original ivories; New Jambs are manufactured & bored and the lengthy process of ebonising all the interior commences.

What a difference a week makes. This exceptionally fine 1872 Three-Manual Father Willis has been dismantled, packed up and brought to our factory in Liverpool, saving it from potential destruction.

In the 70s the pressure was dropped to 36” & the tongues were moved down by 6 notes making them too short, too narrow & too thin. They were also soldered to the faces of the shallots. Collapsed tips have been sawn off making pipes too short to be tuned or regulated properly. 2of2

In collaboration with David Wells Organ Builders we are restoring the iconic Tuba Magna of Liverpool Cathedral. This stop is Harmonic, Double Harmonic & Triple Harmonic. We are restoring it to 50” w.g and re-instating the Willis voicing that it left the factory with in 1924. 1of2

This is the Swell Underaction of the 1884 Father Willis (1928 & 1952 Henry III) from St. Aidan's, Rochdale. The leather motors had become very stiff causing the action to become non responsive. They are extremely large at 22” long as they pull the pallets on three soundboards.

The restoration of the Cavaillé-Coll soundboards from Farnborough Abbey is well underway. In typical French tradition, the tables, slides and bearers are made of hard oak which means the plane iron has to be sharpened after every few passes.

The 1868 Lewis organ is in its new home. This organ has now lived in three countries of our union. Originally built for a house in England, it then served in Wales as a church instrument. Now it is in Scotland as a recital and teaching instrument at The University of St. Andrews.

The Swell Underaction from the Willis Organ in St. Aidan's, Sudden, Rochdale has been re-leathered, re-assembled and tested on the wind in the factory. Yesterday it was re-instated back in the organ.

The Cavaillé-Coll Soundboards from Farnborough Abbey undergo the final stages of restoration and are reassembled ready for testing in The Works.

The Cavaillé-Coll Soundboards from Farnborough Abbey undergo the final stages of restoration and are reassembled ready for testing in The Works.

It’s organ recital day!! 🎶🎶 Ian Pattinson will be playing the renowned Henry Willis organ today as our summer series continues at 1pm. The recital is free! 🙌Refreshments available from 11.30am. It’s a great opportunity to see our beautiful church too! ⛪️ #Preston #HiddenGem

After the hard work in planing the Oak Soundboard Tables of the Cavaillé-Coll organ from Farnborough Abbey, our plane blades get a much needed regrind using our grinding machine.

The restoration of the soundboards, actions and console of the Cavaillé-Coll organ from Farnborough Abbey is complete and now the pipework is being cleaned and overhauled in the Metalshop.

This week has seen a long overdue visit to Orkney to carry out Tuning and Maintenance of the 1925 Willis organ in Kirkwall's St. Magnus Cathedral.

Last week we made our first visit to St. Michael's Linlithgow correcting long standing action faults and carrying out a thorough regulation and tuning, reacquainting this fine 1912 Willis II organ with its original Willis temperament.

Today is an opportunity to hear the mighty 4-manual 1904 Willis II organ at Christ Church Port Sunlight under the hands and feet of Professor Ian Tracey of Liverpool Cathedral. This organ is now thought to be the only surviving, unaltered, 4-manual instrument built by Willis II.

Today is the 104th Birthday of Dr. Francis Jackson CBE, Organist Emeritus of York Minster. We would like to wish him Many Happy Returns. The photo was taken a few years ago when he visited our Workshops.

Tuning is underway for tomorrow’s concert at Port Sunlight where there is the opportunity to hear the Willis II organ together with the renowned Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. Tickets still available on Eventbrite or at Port Sunlight Museum. Sat 5 March 2022: 7:30pm CH62 5EF