condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white
discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

organ

human history
  • Other Name

    Webster organ

  • Description

    This Gothic-style bellow driven organ pipe organ was built by William Webster between 1845 and 1850. Webster arrived in New Zealand from Scotland in 1840 and established successful timber, flour and flax milling businesses. He built the organ over a five year period, using Australian cedar for the case, kauri for the framework and diapason, matai for the flute pipes, and kahikitea, matai and tanekaha for the piping.

    The white keys were cut from sperm-whale teeth obtained from local whalers and the black keys were dyed using traditional Māori textile dyes.

    The organ has a mechanical tracker action, compass four and a half octaves C to F, four stops open Diapason 8 inches, principle 4 inches, flute 4 inches, fifteenth 2 inches, pedal operated bellows.

    In 1896, Webster gave the organ to his daughter, Mrs. Mary Geddes, who was a prominent community leader in Auckland.

    The organ has been restored at least twice since coming into the Museum in the early 1960’s. The first restoration, in 1965, was not documented. The second restoration in 1984 was intended to return the organ to playing condition, which was a condition of its bequest. The mechanism was completely overhauled, and several original parts replaced.

  • Place
  • Associated Place
  • Accession Number
    1965.78.519
  • Accession Date
    29 Oct 1965
  • Other Id

    col.0005 (colonial)

    ocm1734 (old colonists museum)

    13707 (Asset Register)

  • Department
organ, 1965.78.519, col.0005, ocm1734, 13707, Photographed… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity