The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-19 00:00:00

The SWELL ORGAN contains—

Double Diapason
Open
Open ft
Stopped „
Dolciana
Principal

16 ft Piccolo,
8 ..ISesnuin

(open wood) 2 ft

Flute....
Twelfth
Fifteenth

_.
8 „ Fournitur e
8 „ Trombone
4 „ Contra Hautboy

(open wood) "
(close wood) 4 „ Oboe
3 „ Ophicliede
2 „ Clarion..

,Clarion

The Cnotu ORGAN contains—

Double Diapason (closed l Flute
wood)
Open Diapason 8 „ITwelfth
Dulciana 8 „IFifteenth
Viol di Gamba 8 „IMixture
Claribella
Stopped Diapason
Dulcimer

Principal..
Celestiana

The COUPLERS or MECII.IN
Swell to Great Organ
Choir to Great Organ.
Solo to Great Organ.
Solo to Choir Organ.
Great to Swell Organ.

3 Ranks
... Bft

IcAL CoNNExioNs-are—
Choir to Pedals.
Great to Pedals.
Swell to Pedals.
I Solo Organs to Pedals.

The grand source of the wind is from two immense
bellows, each having three feeders, placed in the vaults
below the floor of the hall. These are blown by a steam-
engine, consisting of a pair of oscillating cylinders. There
are, besides, twelve other bellows, or reservoirs, each
giving its own appropriate pressure of air to those stops or
pipes which it supplies.
The pneumatic lever is applied to each of the manuals
distinctly, and also distinctly or separately to the manual
couplers. To the pedal organ there is a double set of
pneumatic levers, but the most elaborate use of this power
is found in its application to the combination of stops ;
here we have it exhibited in a compound form to each
organ individually, and to the whole collectively, where by
one operation the player is enabled to produce a combina-
tion of stops upon the entire instrument at once. This
movement appears in a series of six handsome gold-gilt
knobs, placed immediately under each set of manuals, at
about two keys' distance from each other, occupying a
central position, always within reach of one or other of the
performer's thumbs.

The pneumatic lever is also applied to the opening and
shutting of the swell louvres and some other less important
purposes.

The very extensive use Mr. Willis has made of this ex-
traordinary power seems to have rendered any deviation
from the ordinary valves, in immediate connexion with the
pipes, unnecessary, excepting in the pedal organ, where
the large pipes have a very peculiar valve for their supply,
which is quiet, sound, and free from the resistance result-

ing from the compressed air. Space, however, will not
permit us to describe this curious mechanism.
The pedal board is a most ingenious contrivance of Dr.
Wesley's. The pedals radiate to a point some distance
behind the player, when seated at the instrument ; and
are circular on plan, and conically segmental in elevation.

The mode of drawing the stops is-different from most
organs that we have seen. Each knob, which is of solid
ivory, presenting itself at an angle of about 30 degrees ;
by this arrangement, with that of the pedals and the com-
bination movement, the player has remarkable control
over the instrument.

The improvements in the mechanism of this noble organ
are patent, and consist,--Ist. Of the cylindrical valve.
2d. The exhausting valve of the pneumatic lever, which
would, by engineers, be called an opposition surface valve,
its object being to facilitate the exhaustion of the bellows,
and thus to enhance the reiteration of the touch.. 3d.
The throttle valve to the same, whereby the noise always
perceptible in pneumatic levers, without this application,
is entirely overcome. This is simply a valve placed over
the aperture through which the wind must pass, to inflate
the pneumatic lever, and although the machine retains all
the impulsiveness necessary to insure punctuality, its im-
petus is gradually checked by the pneumatic bellows

closing this valve, %it
connection with the

ply contra
4th. The combination

iovement.

nave no

movement, and the application of pneumatic levers, in a
compound form, by which we understand one acting upon
another. sth. An improved method of centring or
hinging such movements as lead from draw-stops to slides,
&c. 6th. (Not patent.) A most valuable contrivance in
the coupling of the pedals with the manuals, whereby the
four couplers in reality become eight. This is effected by
two pedals on the left of the performer; one pedal pro-
duces the connexion in unison with the pedal organ, the
other in octaves with the same. They can be used sepa-
rately or together, and stand in such a position as to enable
the performer by one operation to detach the 'whole
coupling movement, though the stop be drawn. This is a
mechanical contrivance so unique, and of such importance
and utility, that we cannot help thus expatiating upon it.

We may dismiss the subject Of mechanism by remarking
that means are in this instrument employed, for the first
time, by which all the great, and, it was thought, insur-
mountable obstacles to the building of an immense organ
are entirely overcome. The complete force of the organ
will be as much under the command of the performer as
that of a small chamber organ, of a single row of keys,
while the powers of tone and variety of effects will far ex-
ceed those of any instrument yet built. The quality of
the stops (such as we have heard) is exceedingly rich and
powerful, and such as, perhaps, has never been equalled,
and removes all doubt as to the voicing of this super-
latively grand instrument ; and the tone, after all, is the
grand feature of an organ, however necessary may be the
utmost facilities afforded the performer by mechanical
inventions.