Wanamakers trip
Some time ago I went to Philadelphia to pick up a reed organ and even though I was there only about six hours, I had to visit the organists' Mecca...Wanamakers Department Store and the world's largest pipe organ. Of course there is no Wanamaker's Department Store any more it is the location of a very nice Lord and Taylor's nowadays. The organ is still there and is played twice daily. I just happened along near the end of the day when they play it around 5:00 pm. I shopped and waited.
I expected to be able to purchase a T-shirt with organ pictures on it or something but they have nothing like that. When I asked for such, they said that the organ has its own historical group and when they have an event such things are sold but not every day in the store. I strongly suggested that they were missing an opportunity as I wanted to buy several as did several other tourists who were also there only for the organ. In order to support the Lord and Taylor company and their good care of the organ, I opened a charge card account there and made a few purchases.
As the time for performance arrived, the young organist came out and prepared for his concert of about 20 minutes or so. He said he had just graduated with his Masters of Music from Curtis institute and was planning to go to England for further study in the next month or so. He allowed us to sit right up next to him as he played. The organ sounded like it had hundreds of ranks of pipes and indeed it does.
Here are some of the pics I took while there.
The original facade is there from the St. Louis World's fair. That is how the organ began as a small organ before Mr. Wanamaker found it and became obsessed with enlarging it.
The main console mounted in its third floor niche surrounded by ladies lingerie. While it looks small from the ground floor it is about the size of an Econoline van.
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The stops left and right. I couldn't get all of them in one picture.
And the pedals, clavier, swell shoes, toe studs, and all. Each foot shaped swell shoe opens shutters in a separate division, or chamber or large room of pipes.
I am sorry I could not remember our organists name. If anyone recognizes him, let me know so I can thank him here.
There are many small decorative features in the organ grills. It seems these grills had small light bulbs all over them at one time in the manner of the era when the electric light was new and had to be shown off.
This angel is to be found atop the tallest center pipe tower.
