The Theatre Organ Heritage Centre
and
Hope-Jones Museum
The project is coming on well all the building work with the
exception of disabled access is now complete. The Wurlitzer restoration is now
almost complete and installation has started. The Hope-Jones Museum has received
some of its exhibits including a complete Hope-Jones Electric
action.
The Heritage Lottery, has given the Trust a grant
that will assist in the creation of the Heritage part of this Project.
An Aerial view of the Heritage Centre in Peel Green, just close to the main
A57 to Liverpool
The Centre will also house the worlds first Museum
dedicated to Robert Hope-Jones. We are looking for donations or any artifacts
associated with Hope-Jones for inclusion in the Museum. See note at bottom of
page.

An original Hope-Jones Console has been located for
the Museum, it was the first commercial one (OPUS1) that Robert Hope-Jones
built in 1894 when he formed his own organ building company;
The
Hope-Jones Electric Organ Co. Ltd.

The latest view of the museum area showing some of the display boards about
British Cinema Groups, donated by Granada TV to this project.

The Partly restored console. It remains to complete the wiring and install
the console on the hydraulic lift.
The Console of the Trocadero Wurlitzer, Opus 1664,
which arrived in England on the 30th July 1927.
The Wurlitzer was the 13th to arrive in the Country,
but is at present the 6th oldest surviving Wurlitzer remaining of that first
group.
This photo was taken in 1988 by LTOT Member Thomas
Klose of Germany.
More pictures of the
Wurlitzer rescued by the LTOT.

Among the latest aquisitions for the Hope-Jones Museum is the Worlds first TIBIA rank of pipes,
styled the Tibia Dura made in the early 1890's. Dura being the Latin for Harsh to the ear.
Among the Hope-Jones artifacts already collected by
and donated to the Trust over the years is a reduced model of the organ from St
Lukes Tranmere, this was the first pipe organ that Hope-Jones played and also
experimented with some of his early pipe organ ideas.
In the collection of items for the museum are pipes
and other items from St John's Birkenhead - the first organ built by
Hope-Jones.
Visitors to the museum will be able to see the
pipework of the Wurlitzer visible through windows in the chamber walls. The
sound will be ducted upwards into the first floor auditorium.
The original Hope-Jones Electric action dating from 1893 is in superb condition mounted
in a Mahogony case. This is indeed a great find.
We have now had a serious look at this original Hope-Jones action and find
it quite a remarkable piece of engineering.
A Request
If anyone has any early Wurlitzer items, early cinema
items pre 1929 or any Hope-Jones artifacts and wishes to donate them to our new
Heritage venture please email
Don
Hyde, Chairman of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust
in the first instance with details. Items the Trust
is looking for, will be small items to be housed in the museum either free
standing, wall mountable or suitable to be put in showcases.
This is an important
Heritage project and your help would be appreciated.
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