The Tywyn Wurlitzer

Neuadd Pendre, Tywyn, Gwynedd

Built in Tonawanda, New York State in the United States of America, the 3-manual 9-rank Wurlitzer Organ was originally installed in the Granada Cinema, Woolwich in South East London in 1937 where it was officially opened by no less a personality than Reginald Dixon, best known to everyone as 'Mr Blackpool'.

The organ is now owned by John Smallwood of Tywyn who has generously arranged its permanent loan to the people of the town through the Tywyn Town Council.

Read more about the this history...

When first built in Brook Street, Tywyn in around 1912 it was for use as a Drill Hall for the Territorial Army. Since that time Neuadd Pendre has seen many different uses - army foot drill and weapons training; sports; leisure and social activities such as whist drives; Bingo sessions, small bore rifle club range, committee meetings and, in fact, anything that the hall and its rooms could be used for.

Of course, dances were very popular indeed during the war years and the hall heard many different languages spoken by the many thousands of British and foreign service personnel stationed in and around Tywyn. It eventually became the responsibility of Tywyn Town Council which is committed to its use as a youth club.

Following the successful application for a National Lottery grant from the Arts Council for Wales, extensive work has been carried out in the hall's extension and refurbishment and in the installation of John Smallwood's private Wurlitzer Theatre Organ which is becoming known nationwide as The Tywyn Wurlitzer.

If you are interested in organ recordings, please visit ORGANS.co.uk

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Specifications

It is a three-manual nine-rank Wurlitzer, a pipe organ similar basically to a concert or church instrument. The main differences are that the pipework plays at a higher wind pressure than a church organ and much heavier tremulants are provided but can be turned on or off.

Its nine ranks of pipes are Tibia Clausa, Vox Humana,- Trumpet, Concert Flute, Violin, Violin Celeste, Diaphonic Diapason, Clarinet. Orchestral Oboe Tuned percussions are Xylophone, Cathedral Chimes, Glockenspiel and Vibraphone. It also has numerous non-tonal percussions such as Cymbals, Drums, Castanets, Tambourine, Triangle, Sleigh Bells, Fire Gong, Boat Whistle, Door Bell, Horse Hooves, Bird Whistles, etc., all of which are actual instruments and are played pneumatically.

The some 657 pipes, together with the other instruments, are contained in two chambers behind the stage of Neuadd Pendre. The Bluthner Grand Piano can now be played remotely from the organ console.