E.B. Gevedon, MD — Residence Organ
Miller Pipe Organ Company
This was an exciting project! It is not everyday one gets to build a residence organ. Dr. Gevedon has owned several pipe organs. He began with a 3-rank Möller Artiste which we rebuilt and installed a new 4' Principal and 4' Spitzflöte to go alongside the resident Stopped Flute. This instrument was installed in his parents house.
Dr. Gevedon purchased a large Victorian house in the center of town. In addition to restoring this house with its dumb-waiter, loads of fine woodwork, and historic gas stove, he added a large room to the rear of the house to hold a wonderful restored tracker-action instrument built by Hook & Hastings in 1874. The Möller Organ was moved to the front part of the house which also contained a restored reed organ.
Dr. Gevedon’s intention was for his elderly parents to join him in this home but they declined, not wanting to “live in town”. Dr. Gevedon had to downsize and the Hook & Hastings instrument was sold as a prelude to the sale of the property.
Dr. Gevedon purchased a small home next to his parents. He expanded it with a new work space and an attached garage. The M.P. Möller instrument was moved to this residence and occupies one end of the living room.
His next purchase was a 4-rank Wicks Organ from a North Atlanta residence. Dr. Gevedon was having a log house built out in the country and the organ was intended for this space. The organ was originally built for a small church in St. Louis. Jim Miller traveled to Georgia and, with the aid of the current owner and several hired helpers to do the lifting, removed the organ and returned it to the Miller shop in Louisville, Kentucky.
After much consideration, Dr. Gevedon decided that this might not be the right instrument for the cabin. Having served as a church organist, he was concerned the organ might be overpowering in the combined Great Room and kitchen. He decided that a 5-rank Wicks which had served in a chapel setting would be more appropriate. Not needing two Wicks organs he decided to donate the smaller instrument to a needy congregation.
It was agreed that the organ would be completely exposed in the new space and the workings enclosed by casework. Dr. Gevedon purchased a pre-1930 Möller console which better matched the new casework and was much smaller from front to back than the Wicks console. The console was completely rebuilt and stained to match the interior of the cabin. The balance of the organ was rebuilt, solid-state switching installed, and the pipes refurbished.
Dr. Gevedon made frequent trips to Louisville to inspect the work that was being done. During one trip, sample pipes were placed on the voicing machine for his hearing. He liked the four flue voices, but thought the 8' Oboe Horn was not the sound he desired and, as the front rank on the console side of the chest, might give the organ a less than satisfactory cluttered look. A wooden set of tapered Estey Oboe pipes was located in the Rochester, New York area to replace the original Oboe Horn. The Estey firm built wonderful string voices and this set sounds amazingly like an organ oboe.
The organ began to take shape at the Miller shop. Photos were sent to Dr. Gevedon to keep him up-to-date with how the project was coming along. The employees were thoroughly enjoying this project. Our wholly owned Miller Custom Woodworking was heavily involved in the project refinishing the console shell, pedalboard, and bench. They also designed and crafted the casework.
The chests, wind system, and the casework were delivered first. Several weeks later, the console was shipped. The pipework was installed after the chest holes were blown out and tonal finishing commenced immediately thereafter. The organ is a great success. It fits the room nicely, not only aesthetically but tonally.
Dr. Gevedon’s parents are moving to the smaller house next door to their present residence and the 3-rank Möller organ is to be sold.
Miller Pipe Organ Company
3332 Gilmore Industrial Boulevard
Louisville, Kentucky 40213
502/451-6616
800/827-6710
www.millerorgan.com
