One of three such instruments built by the Wurlitzer company of North Tonawanda, NY, the Trocadero Wurlitzer was designated a ‘Style 270’ and specified by Frank Lanterman, organist for Fox West Coast theatres.
For instruments of such a size (4 manuals and 21 ranks of pipes) the style 270’s were unusual in having only one Tibia Clausa, the stop on which theatre organ tone is founded. Most instruments of this size would have had two Tibias, but the style 270’s adopted a different approach and used the large scale 15” pressure Diaphonic Diapason in the Main chamber to provide a balanced tonal foundation.
Apart from this innovative approach – which suited well the superb orchestral arrangements of Maclean – the style 270’s also possessed a massed body of string tone, were well unified to make best use of the pipework and were well extended with five 16’ stops.
The result was an instrument built up to a specification and not down to a price and gave a quality result.
The Trocadero Wurlitzer was shipped in 1930 and installed by Wurlitzer’s UK agents in time for the opening in December of that year.
It is interesting to note that the original plans show first a smaller instrument installed in an over-stage chamber that was subsequently upgraded to a Style 270 instrument in the same location. A scribbled note in the hand of Tommy Perks, Wurlitzer’s chief installer, on the back of the drawing says, unequivocally, “Rubbish!”. The instrument was eventually installed in shallow and irregular chambers on each side of the proscenium. A number of modifications had ~to be incorporated in the building plans to accommodate the chambers and the few photographs that exist of the original installation show that maintenance and tuning access must have been awkward. Nonetheless, the organ spoke out magnificently and was always in perfect tune.
The Wurlitzer remained in the Trocadero until, with wholesale redevelopment of the Elephant & Castle area becoming a reality in the late 1950s’, the fate of the Trocadero became inevitable.
It was at this point, knowing that organ parts dealers were hovering, that a guardian angel appeared. Geoff Osman made a pre-emptive bid for the organ and in Rank’s letter of acceptance (referring to the “Compton” organ), the Trocadero Wurlitzer became the property of the Cinema Organ Society. Geoff not only provided the financial horsepower to clinch the deal for the Society but also threw himself wholeheartedly into leading what at that time was a novelty, the volunteer removal for preservation of a major theatre organ.
That the organ is intact today is a testimony to Geoff’s persistence and commitment as well as his generosity.