The Capitol Wurlitzer Project — Work Continues
The return of the Capitol’s Wurlitzer is moving into an exciting new phase, with installation work now well underway inside the theatre.
Recent progress has seen the two four-rank ‘Main’ organ chests delivered to The Capitol and hoisted into the organ chamber on the left-hand side of the proscenium. Along with the delivery of the impressive diaphone resonators, these are substantial pieces of the instrument, and seeing them taking their places inside The Capitol gives a real sense of just how enormous the completed installation will be.
Another significant milestone was the arrival of the refurbished Spencer blower — a truly historic day for the project. Due to its size and weight, the blower was transported to The Capitol disassembled. From the foyer, it was carefully moved through the theatre and onto the stage, before being hoisted up onto the fly grid. From there, each component was moved across the grid to the original 1924 main organ chamber, where the blower will be reassembled and connected to the new variable frequency drive (VFD) system.
Behind the scenes, work continues on refurbishing and assembling the many individual components that make up this complex instrument. Pipework, wind systems, electrical connections and the organ’s intricate mechanisms all need to come together with incredible precision.
Each new piece installed brings the project closer to the point where the organ can be commissioned, tested and, eventually, heard once again.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but the transformation inside The Capitol is becoming increasingly visible. What has for so long been a collection of carefully stored and restored components is now becoming an organ once again.
The installation continues — and Eliza is coming home!