String stops completed for new Dobson organ in Sydney, Australia

We have completed the following string stops for our colleagues, Dobson Organ Builders. They will be part of the new four-manual organ for St James' Church, Sydney, Australia. (Please read news update at the top of this page).

Viole Octaviante 4' - 2'. C1 37 mm diameter, body section bellied to 40mm dia. Cornet des Violes 3 1/5' and 2 2/3'. Rank 1: tapered, C1 = 25/8.4mm. Rank 2: 19.3mm dia.

Viole d'Orchestre treble.16'-8'. C13= 78mm dia. Body bellied to 82mm. Viole Celeste 8'. F6 = 59mm. Bellied to 63 mm.

Terry Shires says: "All pipes were made from 80 per cent tin. These are some of the smallest scaled strings we have been involved with for many years. The Cornet 3 1/5' tapered rank was quite a challenge!

"My team have done a wonderful job, George Fowler made the 3 1/5 rank, Chris Shires the 2 2/3 Steve Parker, Terry Doyle and Chris Shires made the VDO. The Celeste is by Terry Doyle and Chris made the Octaviante.

"The bellying of the body section was a challenge when it came to rounding the body sections. We had to bend the mandrels slightly to be able to burnish them, which worked well. Proud of my lads."

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