Sacred Heart Church Semaphore Heritage Pipe Organ Reconstruction
Sacred Heart Church Estey Pipe Organ
Church of the Sacred Heart in Semaphore was built in 1914. Through Wm. Kuhnel & Co. Limited in Rundle Street, Adelaide, they purchased a beautiful pipe organ built by the Estey Organ Company, an American organ manufacturer. Jacob Estey founded the company when, in 1852, he bought out a Brattleboro, Vermont manufacturing business that had begun in 1846.
The company went on to become the largest organ manufacturer in the United States. At its peak, it employed more than 500 people, and sold its high-quality items as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Jacob Estey built around 500,000 to 520,000 pump organs between 1846 and 1955. Estey also produced pianos, professionally made by the Estey Piano Company in New York City.
Jacob Estey was born 1814 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, died 1890). He ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade. He arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1835 at age 21 to work in a plumbing shop. He soon bought the shop, beginning a long career as a successful businessman.
About 1850, Estey built a two-story shop in Brattleboro and rented it out to a small company that manufactured melodeons. When the renters ran short of cash, Estey took an interest in the business in lieu of rent, eventually becoming sole proprietor. Despite having no musical talent or skills as an inventor, Jacob Estey grew the company into a great success, giving up the plumbing business. In 1855, Estey organized the first manufacturing company to bear his name, Estey & Greene—followed by Estey & Company, J. Estey & Company, Estey Organ Company—and finally, Estey Organ Corporation. Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as American reed organs, as a new business opportunity.
Pipe Organ Reconstruction Work
Lancaster Painters Australia performed heritage reconstruction work to the pipe organ in the organ loft of the Sacred Heart Church. The organ was dusted down and sensitively washed using sugar soap and water, followed by further washing with clean water and allowed to dry. We applied two coats of clear to the casing received two coats of clear and hand painted the ranks (the row of organ pipes) using a specialised copper antiquing effect. The final touches included the application of gold to the mouth and upper lip of the organ.