Divisions


HOW TO MAKE A PIPE ORGAN WITH WOOD AND TIN
A pipe organ is a "living" instrument with it's own personality.
Every organ has something specific, in both tone and in design.Van Vulpen Organ builders are proud of the guild they have succeeded in creating, of
master craftsmen who take pride in their work of designing and making organs, and via handwork from key to pipe, and on the final result - a magnificent organ !Fine historical organs are a source of inspiration to Van Vulpen in creating new instruments.
Allow us to give you a short impression on how an organ is made in the workshops of Van Vulpen Bros.
DRAWING OFFICE

The production or restoration starts here.
Detailed drawings are made even for the smallest parts, thus preventing any important
details being overlooked, and therefore allowing artisans in the different workshops to get a total review of the instrument under construction.
THE FOUNDRY

To obtain the best possible results in pipe sound, an alloy of tin, lead an special additives is essential.In our foundry metal can be made according to the rules and descriptions published in very old literature concerning organ-building. The molten metal is then poured onto a wooden bench and is allowed to settle.
The plate then receives a final treatment on the planing machine, and is shaped into the chosen size. The quality of the metal used is extremely important for the tones of an organ.
THE PIPE-MAKING WORKSHOP

This department is where everything has to, and is, made by hand.
Here, the created plate is cut to the correct length and width. Beating with a small wooden carefully rounds thick, thin, small and large plates plank on a solid background.
A body, a languid and a foot are carefully assembled and soldered to a complete flue pipe or reed. This involves a very specialised handwork that demands great experience and craftsmanship. Slowly but surely the different pipe types get their form as a basis for the final sound character, after receiving a finishing touch via the voicers and tuners. The harmony between pipe-makers and voices is a guarantee for the best possible pipe
sound.
THE CABINET (CASE) MAKERS

Not only the sound of the organ is important, but also the cabinet (case).
A good cabinet not only gives the organ an attractive and adapted appearance, but also protects the interior parts, and acts as a sounding board. This enables our specialists to help each other to complete an instrument with an attractive case and a rich variety in carvings and ornaments. All cases are made of solid wood (usually oak or pine) to provide a good resonance.

WORKSHOP FOR ORGAN-PARTS

Artisans work here to manufacture the interior of the organ.
The work is of such high quality, the likes of which you will seldom see.
Wind chests, roller-boards, bellows, keyboards and a great variety of small parts for the mechanical connections are made here, almost all by hand.
After having finished the preparations, the assembling of the organ can begin. This work entails a high grade of precision.
The final outcome of the above, is to ensure that, by creating a good "touch", the organist is able to express his or her personal intensity.
THE VOICING DEPARTMENT

Voicers are craftsmen who enable each pipe to create it's lively character.
At the same time they co-ordinate the sound to achieve the best possible harmony between the different types of pipes.
They must have sensible ears and skilled hands to get a sonorous and harmonious composition.
A fascinating job, having as a result a lively instrument ready for organists to express their artistic capabilities.