Late 19th century Probably Pfeffer organ - St. Martin's Catholic Church - Starkenburg, Missouri

Brent Johnson, Fr. Jeremy Secrist, and Christopher Soer explore the 19th century organ of St. Martin Catholic Church in Starkenburg, Missouri.
Specification of the Organ: pipeorgandatabase.org/organ/1371
St. Wenceslaus Church: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mar...)
1897 Pfeffer of St. Thomas Church (Phyllis): • 1897 Pfeffer Organ, Ch...
1890 Pfeffer of Shrine of St. Joseph, St. Louis: • 1890 Pfeffer Organ - S...
Releathering the Reservoir of the Shrine Pfeffer: • Releathering the Reser...
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[@darobzamusic6007]

I am very suprised at how that organ just fills the space completly, even if it only has 6 ranks. A very cool little quirky instrument.

[@johnspeller3666]

Greetings to Fr. Secrist, who was so hospitable when I visited St. Thomas.

[@annekruse4067]

We are getting married at St. Martin's next year and are so excited to learn a little about the church's organ. Thanks for the information!

[@karlrovey]

It's nice to see some of these small instruments featured.

[@bw4t]

I had a similar small mystery organ at St. Patrick's Church, Junction City OH. "Unknown Builder." I looked through the instrument quite thoroughly and took a lot of photos. The very distinct key desk brackets were able to positively identify (with help from Barbara Owen and another researcher whose name escapes me) as Mathias Schwab. It is the only Schwab to survive unaltered (except for electric blower) AND in its original location. It is a true rarity (in the USA) for an organ to remain in its original location for 168 years! I also made a recording of every single stop on this delightful instrument, many pipes of which have been butchered by persons unfamiliar with cone tuning. The stopped (metal) rank is actually tuned on the oversize ears, not something one encounters much. Like the organ in the video, it fills the room rather nicely. Its in the OHS Convention this year.

[@mylesschlicher965]

Very interesting exploration. Maybe we didn't find all the answers, but it provided a great historical perspective and well worth the investigation.

[@stepheneggert7388]

Interesting organ..ty for the tour..

[@margitrujillo6943]

I find these videos very interesting! As a former organist (not a pipe organ, but Rogers 3 manual electronic) A beautiful sound, but these true pipe organs are fascinating in their complex sounds)

[@jrorganbuilding]

I wish more Catholic diocese would create a position like this priest has to preserve historic instruments as opposed to just allowing churches to junk them for the default toaster

[@johnspeller3666]

The oblique stop knobs on this instrument were patented by W. Boyrer of New York, Patent #96,543, Nov. 9, 1869.

[@jrzzrj]

👍 interesting find

[@danielmkubacki]

A cool old organ.

[@dragonpullman23]

Nice organ right there. I am surprised how effectively it seems to fill the church, although I am sure the audio from the video doesn't do it justice. While you are in Missouri, you might want to check out the 1965 Wicks at Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church in Ste. Genevieve Missouri.

[@SI-42]

The script shown on the wooden pipes is Kurrent, an old form of German handwriting. No expert myself, but I think it spells "2B 2rh" and "1B 6rv". Just guessing but "rh" might be short for "rechts hinten" (back right) and "rv" for "rechts vorne" (front right). Not sure if this makes any sense...

[@christophersoer2382]

that is very helpful! also suggests an earlier time for the pfeffer company.

[@dhelton40]

It is really upsetting to see electricians mount industrial motor controls on the casework of these organs. As an electrician I can say that there are other options. The control could be mounted on a nearby wall or a contactor style control could be used, which would allow a more discrete small switch. Better, a stop could be reproduced to match the others, allowing a micro switch to turn on the motor contactor. I just don't understand how anyone in charge of an organ could allow this kind of mess to happen.

[@christianfeldmann8287]

Bigger organs like 50 to 200 stops pleas!

[@jrorganbuilding]

Disagree- these instruments are real gems and they need to be valued and preserved. Bigger is not necessarily better.

[@TheJakeman789]

I agree. This organ has no flexibility or tonal color. Sad

[@christianfeldmann8287]

I love Big organs not 0815 organs whithout reeds!

[@hdmuz8]

@@TheJakeman789 then learn to maximize it instead of being a crybaby

[@ericalbany]

@@christianfeldmann8287 then there are plenty of other places to hear them

[@TheJakeman789]

Oh, no thank you! 1 manual? 6 ranks? Hard pass!