The former Rex Wurlitzer Organ started its life in 1927, being installed in the Almira Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, in the USA.
This installation was short lived however, and it was shipped over to England in 1934 to be installed in the Rex Cinema, Stratford, London, where it was opened by Sandy Macpherson. Being a divided (the pipes were in two chambers) 'Style E Special', having two manuals and seven ranks of pipes, it is unique to the UK. The organ had mixed fortunes at Stratford, the console being buried at one point, when a new much wider screen was built over the orchestra pit. A later change to bingo allowed the organ to be restored by a team of enthusiasts led by David England and played once again. It was used for concerts and several commercial LP recordings were made on it by the well known organist David Shepherd.
In the early 1970's the bingo era ended and the organ had to be removed, as the building was to be transformed into a night club. It was fortunately rescued by organ enthusiast, Charles Davidson, who has had the organ in storage at various places ever since and which is currently still owned by him.
With the passage of time the organ's condition has deteriorated and it is now imperative that steps are taken to prevent the loss forever of this unique instrument. Specialist restoration materials are needed. These include glue, very fine leather, and other components (many of which have to be imported from the USA). We also need to fund the professional restoration of the seven ranks of pipes and the construction of pipe chambers under the stage in the cinema. A console lift will also be required.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Pedal Department
Trumpet 16' Tibia Clausa 8' Bass Drum
Diaphone 16' Flute 8' Kettle Drum
Bourdon 16' Cello 8' Crash Cymbal
Trumpet 8' Accompaniment to Cymbals
Diaphonic Pedal Traps to 2nd Touch
Diapason 8'
Accompaniment
Contra Viol Octave 4' Harp Chrysoglott
(Ten. C) 16' Piccolo 4' Snare Drum
Bourdon 16' Viol 4' Tamborine
Vox Humana Octave Celeste 4' Castanets
(Ten. C) 16' Flute 4' Chinese Block
Trumpet 8' Vox Humana 4' Tom Tom
Diaphonic Piccolo 2' Sleigh Bells
Diapason 8'
Tibia Clausa 8'
Violin 8'
Violin Celeste
(Ten. C) 8'
Concert Flute 8'
Vox Humana 8'
Accompaniment Second Touches
Trumpet 8' Cathedral Chimes Cymbals
Tibia Clausa 8' Triangle Solo to
Accompaniment
Solo
Trumpet 16' Octave 4' Cathedral Chimes
Diaphone 16' Piccolo 4' Xylophone Tap
Tibia Clausa Viol 4' Xylophone Re-it
(Ten. C) 16' Octave Celeste 4' Glockenspiel
Bourdon 16' Flute 4' Harp Chrysoglott
Vox Humana Tibia Twelfth 2 2/3 Sub Octave
(Ten. C) 16' Twelfth 2 2/3 Octave
Diaphonic Tierce 1 3/5
Diapason 8'
Trumpet 8'
Tibia Clausa 8'
Violin 8'
Violin Celeste
(Ten. C) 8'
Concert Flute 8'
Vox Humana 8'
Solo Second Touches
Trumpet 16' Tibia Clausa 8'
Tremulants
Main (Diap., Flute, Violin, Celeste) Solo (Trumpet, Tibia)
Vox Humana
Effects
Horse Hoofs Snare Drum Roll Surf
Motor Horn Bird Siren
Fire Gong Re-it Steamboat Whistle
Two Balanced Swell Pedals
Full Organ Sforzando Pedal
5 Pistons to Accompaniment & Pedal
8 Pistons to Solo & Pedal