ORION WURLTIZER

3/17 WURLITZER Style 260 Opus 1813

History

Announced in the Sydney newspapers on December 17, 1927 was the fact that: "Union Theatres Ltd have purchased an orchestral organ in America for installation in the new Capitol Theatre now being erected in Sydney. It has been constructed by Wurlitzer and contains 173 orchestral and organ effects and cost $42 000."

The Capitol opened on Easter Saturday 1928, with American organist Fred Scholl at the console of Wurlitzer Opus 1813, a three manual, 15 rank Style 260. Ranks were Tuba Horn, Diaphonic Diapason, Clarinet, Viol d'Orchestre, Viol Celeste, Flute, Vox Humana, Brass Trumpet, Brass Saxophone, Tibia Clausa, Oboe Horn, Orchestral Oboe, Kinura, Solo String and Quintadena.

Scholl apparently had a liking for Krumet pipes, so the Saxophone rank was exchanged for the Krumet rank of the Adelaide Regent theatre sometime during the organ's early days, although the stop tabs were unchanged.

The organ was used until the middle of 1957 when it was closed down, and sat gathering dust. It was 'adopted' by TOSA members in 1963 who got it into playing condition again. Greater Union allowed TOSA to hold organ concerts to be presented early on Saturday mornings up until the Capitol was closed in 1972, when TOSA was given the first option to buy the organ.

Without having anywhere to put it, nevertheless TOSA made the purchase and removed the organ into storage where it remained for 16 years until the Orion Centre, a former Theatre in the Sydney suburb of Campsie was found to be a suitable venue. Headed by New Zealand Organ Builder John Parker, TOSA members restored and installed the organ, adding an English Post Horn and a Solo String Celeste to bring the ranks to 17.

The inaugural concert at the Orion was on October 1, 1988. Interestingly, when a Dennison Saxophone was acquired, the Krumet was removed and installed in the Marrickville Wurlitzer. In early November 2021 a genuine Wurlitzer Saxophone rank was installed to replace the Dennison Saxophone. Early reports are that the new Saxophone blends superbly with the existing ranks.