New Rohrflote, Visit to Temple Organs

Earlier this week I was in Kansas City at the Western Nursery Trade Show.  On the way back to Lincoln we stopped at Temple Organs in St. Joeseph, MO to pick up a Rohrflote and have a look around.  Owner David Cool services the organ at my church (St. Andrew's Lutheran) and I have been discussing my home project with him.  Since my console was designed for 5 unified ranks and the organ came with only 4 ranks, I get to pick one to add.  He recommended a celeste of some sort or a contrasting flute at 4' & 2' pitch.  He also mentioned a 4' Rohrflote built by Moller that he had on hand.  He said it would be very appropriate in a small residential instrument.  I thought it would be very nice to have a 2' stop available on the great (everything is currenly 8' or 4', no mixtures or mutations).  I also thought it would be cool to give the organ a bit of a German accent!  I decided to go with the 4' Rohrflote, but haven't given up on the celeste idea.  I haven't heard the Rohr played, but head voicer Jon Bertschinger said the scale is not too wide and it's not too heavy on fundamental.  He voiced it for 3" of wind and included a top octave to complete the 2' compass for unification.  4'C is pictured.  Jon also took the time to show me a project on their drawing board and another waiting to go out the door.  Thanks, Jon!

After getting home, I got an email from Trevor Dodd who owned my organ two owners ago.  He pointed out that the rank labeled "Stopped Diapason" is actually a Rohrflote!  Now I have two!  The 8' octave is completely covered, but from 4' C up it is a Rohr.  My plan is to get everything up and running as it is and see how it sounds.  I'll keep my eye out for a true 85 note Gedeckt and swap them out some day.  I need to find a windchest for the new Rohr, but Gene Bedient pointed out that it isn't very difficult to build a direct electric chest myself.  We will see.  If I am building a chest anyway, I might as well make it two ranks and plan for that celeste someday.  Now if I can just wire it into my relay...

My soldering station is on order and should be here by the weekend so I can start practicing that skill.  I decided to go with the Weller WES51.  Thanks to everyone from the forums who chimed in with their recommendations for makes and models!