During construction work on the East Wing in the late 1990’s, the 2,300+ organ pipes, blower and associated equipment, were removed to a temperature-controlled, vermin-free storage facility for protection. Only the console and pedal board remain in Hamilton Hall. While the Austin organ awaits some much-needed restoration and eventual reinstallation, the congregation uses an Allen digital electronic instrument graciously loaned by the estate of Alexander Post, former Organist at the San Francisco UU Society.
Specifications of the Austin Organ
GREAT
Contra Gemshorn*, 16 ft. 85 pipes
Gemshorn*, 8 ft. 61 notes
First Open Diapason, 8 ft. 61 notes
Second Open Diapason*, 8 ft. 61 notes
Melodia*, 8 ft. 61 notes
Octave Gemshorn*, 4 ft, 61 notes
Octave, 4 ft. 61 notes
Mixture (12-15), 2 rks, 122 pipes
Full Mixture* (1-8-12-15), 4 rks, 244 pipes
*enclosed in Choir expression box
SWELL
Contra Fagotto, 16 ft. 73 pipes
Geigen, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Rohrflote, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Salicional, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Voix Celeste, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Dulciana, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Trumpet, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Oboe, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Octave Geigen, 4 ft. 73 pipes
Rohrflote, 4 ft. 73 pipes
Clarion, 4 ft. 73 pipes
Mixture (15-19-22), 3 rks. 183 pipes
Tremolo (valve)
CHOIR
Tuba (from Pedal) 8 ft. 29 pipes
Viola, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Harmonic Flute, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Spitzflote, 8 ft. 73 pipes
Vox Humana, 8 ft. 61 pipes
Flute Celeste (tenor C), 8 ft. 61 pipes
Harmonic Flute, 4 ft. 73 pipes
English Horn, 4 ft. 73 pipes
Nasard, 2 2/3 ft. 61 pipes
Flautino, 2 ft. 61 pipes
Tierce, 1 2/3 ft. 61 pipes
Tremolo (valve)
PEDAL
Bombarde, 16 ft. 32 pipes
Diapason, 16 ft. 32 pipes
Bourdon, 16 ft. 32 pipes
Octave, 8 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
Tuba, 8 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
Flute, 8 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
Flute, 4 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
Fifteenth, 4 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
Clarion, 4 ft. 12 pipes, 20 notes
In addition to the Austin organ, First Unitarian also owns a marvelous Steinway B concert grand piano, purchased by Musicopia in 1999 for use in worship and concerts in Hamilton Hall.