How much are church organs worth?
The cost of a pipe organ can be as low as $30,000.00 for a used instrument relocated to a new home, to millions of dollars for a new instrument built for a major church or concert hall. The range of cost for a pipe organ for a small to medium sized church is in the area of $200,000.00 – 850,000.00.
What is the value of an antique pump organ?
It should sell in the $1,200 to $1,500 price range. However, there is a very limited market for antique pump organs.
How much does a church organ weigh?
The weight of an organ is generally 600 lbs per stop which calculates to a load of 60 lbs per square foot. In cases where divisions are stacked, the load doubles to 120 lbs per square foot.
Is there a market for pump organs?
Unfortunately, today, the value of unrestored antique pump organs is next to nothing. Maybe a few hundred dollars, if that. Many pump organ owners cannot even give their organs away let alone sell them and many end up as landfill.
How often should a pipe organ be cleaned?
Keeping the Pipe Organ Clean Most experts recommend having a pipe organ deep cleaned every 10-20 years, along with getting a tune-up. This is in addition to regular cleanings, annual inspections, and minor repairs.
How often should pipe organs be played?
Regular pipe organ tuning seasons are conducted up to four times a year, coinciding with the holidays of Easter and Christmas, as well as the seasonal changes in late spring/summer and late summer/fall.
How many mighty Wurlitzer organs are there?
In fact, of nearly ten thousand theatre organs built by about three dozen companies between 1910 and 1940, only a few hundred still exist today (including many collections of salvaged parts); a recent survey concluded that only 38 theatre organs remain in their original venues in any semblance of original condition.
How much does it cost to restore a pump organ?
The cost of relocating, refurbishing, restoring, renovating a vintage organ is typically 2/3 or 3/4 that of commissioning a new organ. Residence organs, to fit under ten-foot ceilings, typically cost up to $50,000, “soup to nuts.” The Organ Clearing House does not offer or encourage “fire sale” prices.
Who is Kilgen and son?
By the turn of the century, Kilgen and Son had grown to be the largest and most well-known organ company in St. Louis. George Kilgen died in 1902, and Charles Kilgen took over the company and headed it during its most productive years. In 1909, Charles Kilgen purchased the Pfeffer Organ Co. and added it to the company’s assets.
Where did the Kilgens come from?
Succeeding generations of Kilgens remained in Durlach and carried on organ building as a family trade. George Kilgen was born in Merchingen, Germany in 1821 and apprenticed to the organ builder Louis Voit in Durlach. In 1840, he emigrated to the United States for political reasons and was employed with the Jardine organ company in New York City.
Who was Keith Kilgen?
Kilgen was a prominent American builder of organs which was in business from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. The grand gallery organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York
When did the Jardine Organ Company start?
In 1840, he emigrated to the United States for political reasons and was employed with the Jardine organ company in New York City. He founded his own company there in 1851, and in 1873 relocated to St. Louis, where his company became one of the principal suppliers of church organs to the Midwestern United States.