About us
Here is a little background on our history and philosophy...
Wigton Pipe Organs is a small company dedicated to the construction of pipe organs of high quality. We believe that our small size gives us the flexibility to provide the ideal organ for almost any given situation. Not being bound by standardized designs, we are able to custom-build organs according to variations in budget, architecture and musical needs.
We specialize in instruments with mechanical action, although we have specified electric action where a tracker isn't possible, or when there is an existing electric-action organ of high quality. We enjoy building new organs, but do not hesitate recommending a rebuild when a church cannot afford a new organ large enough for the room.
Our basic approach is to first analyze all the uses for a potential instrument, and come up with a specification that will fill those needs in the room. Then, if the budget won't hold up to a totally new organ, we consider other possibilities.
In some instances, the result has been a "new-old" organ, such as our project in Fremont, Ohio. That church found itself with most of the pipework from its 1890's Farrand & Votey tracker organ, and a handsome case, but nothing else. We designed an augmented stoplist, retained all the original pipes and case, built a new console, action and windchests. The church now has a "new" organ which will play 19th-century music well, and a great deal of the music of other periods.
Our smallest new organ is a 37-note table organ used for accompanying Gregorian chant. Our largest is the 3-manual 52-stop tracker in an 18th-century French-style case at Old St. Mary's in Detroit. In between have been many projects, both new and rebuilt, in which we've been given the opportunity to show our flexibility. We enjoy a challenge!