Robert Cecil Clifton, Perth

 

 

ST AIDAN'S UNITING CHURCH, CLAREMONT

 

This instrument is the earliest example of the work of Robert Cecil Clifton and was completed in 1878.  In 1879 it was moved to St John's Anglican Church, Fremantle and in 1884 to St Matthew's Anglican Church, Guildford.  It was installed in its present location in 1912 by J.E. Dodd who carried out an overhaul, with changes to the original tonal scheme that included a Labial Oboe and Viole d'Orchestre.  In 1975 an overhaul was carried out by F.J. Larner and Co., with further modifications to the tonal scheme including upperwork, followed by a more comprehensive restoration in 1987 when the tonal scheme reverted back more closely to the original, although the Swell Trumpet and Quint have remained.  In 1999 the organ was cleaned and the bellows releathered by F.J. Larner and Co.  The facade pipes were restencilled by Pipe Organs WA.  Five ranks of Clifton pipework remain in the organ, some only partially surviving.

 

GREAT			SWELL
Open Diapason   (Clifton trebles)	8	*	Hohl Flute	8	*
Stopped Diapason	8	*	Wald Flute	4	*
Dulciana	8		Principal	2
(from St Andrew's Church, Perth)			Quint	1–1/3
Principal   (new treble pipes)	4	*	Trumpet	8
PEDAL
Subbass	16		* Original Clifton pipework

 

Compass:  56/30

3 couplers

Mechanical key and stop action

Attached drawknob console

 

         •    Leon D. Cohen, Gathered Fragments:  the Biography of Robert Cecil Clifton, I.S.O. 1854–1931.  Bunbury, W.A.:  Charta Duplicating and Binding Service, 1979, pp.42–45.

 

         •    Pipe Organs WA website.