Troxy, Stepney, London
490 Commercial Road, London, E1 0HX
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: 22nd December 1930
History
1930: On 22nd 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 28th 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 15th 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 21st 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 22nd August 2015 with Richard Hills & Robert Wolfe at the console. Over 700 people were in attaendace.
Chamber Layout
UPPER MAIN CHAMBER – Left of Stage
Tuba Horn
Diaphonic Diapason
Tibia Clausa II
Vox Humana II
LOWER MAIN CHAMBER – Left of Stage
Clarinet
Gamba
Gamba Celeste
Viol d’Orchestre
Viol Celeste
Flute
Unda Maris
Dulciana
Chrysoglott
UPPER SOLO CHAMBER – Right of Stage
Tuba Mirabilis
English Horn
Tibia Clausa I
Vox Humana I
Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Sleigh Bells
Traps/Effects
LOWER SOLO CHAMBER – Right of Stage
Trumpet
Horn Diapason
Kinura
Orchestral Oboe
Saxophone
String
String Celeste
Oboe Horn
Quintadena
PERCUSSION CHAMBER – Left of Solo Chamber
Upright Piano
Harp/Marimba
Chimes
Chinese Gong