Troxy, Stepney, London

490 Commercial Road, London, E1 0HX

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About

4/25 Wurlitzer

Tuba Mirabilis, English Horn, Trumpet, Tuba Horn, Diaphonic Diapason, Horn Diapason, Tibia Clausa I, Tibia Clausa II, Clarinet, Kinura, Orchestral Oboe, Saxophone, String, String Celeste, Gamba, Gamba Celeste, Viol d’Orchestre, Viol Celeste, Oboe Horn, Quintadena, Flute, Vox Humana I, Vox Humana II, Unda Maris, Dulciana + Upright Piano

Opus Number: 2139

Model: Style 270 Sp

Current Transmission System: Z-Tronics

Original Location: Trocadero Cinema, Elephant & Castle

Original Opening Date: 22^nd December 1930

History

1930: On 22^nd December the Trocadero Cinema, Elephant & Castle opened with Quentin Maclean at the Wurlitzer. At the time the Wurlitzer was the largest in the UK.

1960: The cinema announced its impending closure.

1961: The Wurlitzer was bought for £350 and dismantled by the Cinema Organ Society and placed into storage. By February the chambers were empty. During the removal part of the Wurlitzer relay was damaged.

1960-1979: The installation in the Edric Hall, Southbank Polytechnic took some time due to access issues in the hall. The worked was led by Geoffrey Osman with the help of Dennis Coffin and latterly Tony Manning. Mrs Maclean left £1,000 in her will to the Society for upkeep of the Wurlitzer. Due to the fact part of the Wurlitzer relay was missing, a Compton relay was used to replace the damaged section.

1979: On 28^th January the Wurlitzer was opened at the Edric Hall, Southbank Polytechnic with William Davies at the Console.

1980’s: John Smallwood and David Lowe, inspired by the fine Wurlitzer organs in America, started to investigate why the Wurlitzer failed to produce the same thrill. Assisted by John Abson and David Pawlyn, they experimented with the organ’s tremulants. This was part of a work programme that began with the replacement of the part-Wurlitzer, part-Compton relay with a solid-state system, and encompassed winding modifications, addition of three ranks of pipes; Tibia Clausa, Vox Humana in the Main Chamber & Oboe. professional regulation of some pipework took place also.

2001: By mid-June a ambitions project was under way to fully restore and re-specify the console. The work was carried for a cost of £30,000 by COS Members lead by John Abson.

2002: On 15^th March the Wurlitzer with its new console was re-opened.

2003: Just before Christmas the COS was notified the Wurlitzer had to be removed.

2004: On 21^st March Robert Wolfe played the final concert and over 5 weekends in June the Wurlitzer was removed and placed into storage.

2004-2015: A search for a new home was under way and after a few years it was apparent the Troxy Cinema, Stepney could house the Wurlitzer as the venue was becoming a events centre. A number of years of construction work at Troxy and full restoration of the Wurlitzer took place, including the addition of a Solo String Celeste.

2015: The Wurlitzer opened on 22^nd August 2015 with Richard Hills & Robert Wolfe at the console. Over 700 people were in attaendace.

Chamber Layout