The Biggest, Loudest, and Craziest Instrument Ever 

"VonBelmont" (jvonbelmont) 12/08/2014 at 22:53 • Filed to: organlock, loud, organ, atlantic city, monster, veyron

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There's crazy. There's nuts. And then there's 150% absolute balls out insanity. The Midmer Losh organ in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, is definitely the latter. I've always loved the organ for it's combination of batshit insanity, musical expression, and mechanical genius, and this takes the cake and devours it like a rabid dog. According to Wikipedia, it was designed to fill the massive hall with earsplitting music before loudspeakers (early '30s). The organ console is comprised of 7 keyboards and a pedalboard and well over a thousand stoptabs (switches that turn off sets of pipes), controlling 33,000 pipes ranging from the size of your pinkie nail to 64 feet. Spread out over 8 chambers (with foot-controlled shutters to raise/lower the volume), it's basically the whole damn building. The loudest set of pipes, the Grand Opheceide, sits on 100" of pressure, and fills the room at 130dB with an ear-piercing brassy blast. You can hear it right at the end of the video. Just that one alone could contend with Manowar. And there's 600 other ranks of pipes to contend with as well. To play this thing requires 1000HP fans and a call to the power company. That's a Bugatti Veyron engine just to play it.

Unfortunately, no one gave a shit. Not only did the Depression stop people from seeing sporting events and music concerts, it turns out that building a pipe organ right off the ocean is a terrible idea. Building the damn thing bankrupted the company and almost pulled Atlantic City under (the designer was the rather insane Senator Richards). The heat causes the pipes to warp, so the tuning goes to hell. The humidity and water gets in and destroys precious internals. And these things already require assloads of upkeep, so after a hurricane knocked it out in the '40s, they let it go. A 1998 restoration of one chamber was quickly fucked up by workmen who stomped all over the pipes and cut the wires. Currently, it's at about 10% functionality, which is a shame because this thing is amazing. What you hear in the video is the only time it's ever been recorded at full capacity (sometime in the 50s). And goddamn it's glorious.

gmctavish needs more space > VonBelmont 12/08/2014 at 23:28

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Holy actual balls, I had no idea that existed. I love this kind of thing, it almost seems like it's from an alternate history or something. The dude in the last picture for scale is crazy, thank you for posting this

wafflesnfalafel > VonBelmont 12/08/2014 at 23:44

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My grand dad played the organ for the local Lutheran church. They really are one of those machines that folks don't realize how amazing they are until they sit and listen to the entire building throb. Kind of like a decibel contest - but from a thousand years ago. We have one of the few manufacturers still around in the states up here - http://www.pasiorgans.com/

VonBelmont > gmctavish needs more space 12/08/2014 at 23:50

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I always love it when things like this come to fruition and actually get to exist. It's like imagination made reality, and it makes my inner child very happy. Yes, reality quickly catches up with it, but for a few years, it gets to exist in a supernova-like state.

I forgot to mention the beast at Wanamakers (now Macys) in Philly. Damn thing's almost as big, fully working, and played daily. It's not as wham bam hyper-loud as the Atlantic City organ; basically a gigantic orchestra, complete with a shockingly realistic string and woodwind section done via pipes. My family traditionally goes to see the Christmas concert/light show, which is always fabulous. Definitely something everyone should experience at least once in their life.

VonBelmont > wafflesnfalafel 12/09/2014 at 00:05

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My great-grandfather had an Aeolian self-playing pipe organ in his mansion back in the '20s. Basically, a proto-computer. I still remember hearing it and just being bombarded with this thick wash of sound coming from every corner of the house. I personally don't care for hymns, but the classical stuff is sublime. As a pianist, playing it was the ultimate mindfuck, because the keys have no real feel and a slight delay. Sadly, we sold it with the house when my grandfather passed away, but thankfully the guy who bought the house wouldn't dream of ripping it out (as what happened to most of those instruments).

twochevrons > VonBelmont 12/09/2014 at 09:06

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SOMEBODY ELSE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS! I've always been fascinated by organs, both from a musical, and an engineering, standpoint. A few years ago, my wife and I got to hear the late, great, Carlo Curley play the newly-restored Auckland Town Hall organ. It was an incredible, and highly entertaining experience, and left quite the impression.

I'd love to hear one of the great American theatre organs in person. The Auckland Town Hall organ was originally built in that bombastic style (although smaller), but lost a lot of that swagger in a '70s remodel. In 2010, though, it was restored to its original splendour, and is quite incredible to behold.