ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
Ponchatoula, LA.


ORGAN RENOVATION- PHASE II
(Click images to enlarge)

In July 2003 a Wicks harp, matching the specifications of the original harp installed on the Ideal Theatre organ, was located at the shop of master organ builder Carlton Smith in Indiana. In Mid-July 2003, the DeMajo family drove to Indianapolis to purchase the harp, on behalf of St. Joseph Church, and transport it to New Orleans in the family pickup. Shown here is the old Stutz Auto Factory which is now home to Carlton Smith Theatre Organ Restorations.
:From Indianapolis to New Orleans, this unusual cargo elicited looks and inquiries all along the route.
Back at the ranch....ah.....Rectory, the restoration process begins. A spare bedroom, intended for visiting Dominican priests, has been adapted as a workshop to house the organ restoration operations.
Primary action is inspected and refurbished
Inside of the harp action, intermediate pneumatics are found to have been recently releathered and are in good condition. They will be cleaned and left as-is.
The power pneumatics were another story. Some rodent damage was found on the exterior leather of several of the pouches. After sun flower seeds were detected in many of the assemblies, a decision was made to strip and releather all power pneumatic pouches. This is a view of the stripped pouch frames awaiting releathering.
Leather skins from Leather Supply House, Inc. are prepared for installation on pneumatic frames.
   
After the re-leathering of the harp, wiring connections are installed.
The completed harp is carried to it's niche above the vestment room at the rear of the church.
Lifting the action into place.
Action frame is secured to top of closet.
Resonator section is installed . Note that even the familiar
collection basket is put to work by this volunteer ATOS crew..
 
The 24 note side of the harp shown in its new playing position..
A view of the chest action on Wicks 838. Chest was opened today in order to repair a couple of pesky ciphers.