Wesbein United Methodist Church
Saybrook, IL
Completed
2005
Complete Restoration of Pilcher’s Sons Opus 605 Tracker Pipe Organ
Wesbein United Methodist Church
Saybrook, Illinois
Henry Pilcher’s Sons tracker (#605)
Restored 2005 by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders
compass 61/30
Pipes repaired and regulated at A-432 at 3”
Mechanical key and stop action, tubular pneumatic Bourdon and façade actions
Stop List
8′ Open Diapason
8′ Melodia
8′ Dulciana
4′ Octave
2′ Super Octave
8′ Violin Diapason
8′ Stopped Diapason
8′ Salicional
4′ Violina
4′ Flute Harmonic
16′ Bourdon
Swell to Great
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal
The Pilcher name in organbuilding encompassed four generations of the family doing business in several locations including Newark, Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans, as well as Louisville where the instrument for Saybrook was manufactured. Over 100 Pilcher instruments were built for churches in Illinois, including about 16 for Methodist churches. Remaining documented Pilcher instruments in Illinois, in addition to the one in Saybrook, are in Albion, Elkhart, Greenville, and Knoxville. As far as can be determined, the organ at Wesbein Church is the only remaining Pilcher organ in a Methodist church in the state of Illinois.
This instrument, original to the church was completely restored according to the standards of the Organ Historical Society by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders and was finished in 2005.