Letter from Henry Willis to Ernest M. Skinner

Ernest M. Skinner Esq.
The Skinner Organ Co. Ltd
Dorchester
Boston Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Mr. Skinner,

I hope that you had an interesting time in France and particularly that you called on Albert Dupré at Rouen and saw the Cavaillé-Coll at St. Ouen there.

As regards your visit here – it was all too short. You did not give me the chance to show you as much as I would have liked to for I was anxious to take you to try and hear small instruments as well as large ones to demonstrate that the same tonal build-up is present in all — thus ensuring correct ensemble.

Reference Washington Cathedral — I would very much like to see the specification for possibly I could make a few suggestions that would create an ensemble on “Willis” lines, and I would send you pipes indicating the scales and voicing & treatment that I would employ if I were doing the organ. I take it that the Tuba, Clarion, Mixture etc., would be used for Washington, so be sure to give the pitch. If so, I would also suggest my sending you at least C’s of the complete Diapason chorus — leading up to the mixture.

Please ask for exactly what you want and you shall have it. Let me know the best way to consign goods so as to minimize freight tariff charges your end.

Now I want the following please!:

Sample magnet complete in chest. Samples of outside and inside primaries. Samples of exhaust diaphragm units — with drawstop action for both “straight” and “compound” sliderless chests. Samples of all electric action parts, complete drawings of electric key action at console showing couplers and cut outs. Drawing showing manual and pedal piston touch, full size drawings showing complete two- three- and four-manual consoles. Eight-station electric swell engine complete with balanced pedal and contacts, drawings of electro-pneumatic relay as used for pedal actions, i.e. one wire from pedal touch box and say eight out. Samples of the various units used in your combination action. Sample of reversible action.

French Horn 8ft complete — the type you consider your best — voiced on the pressure you consider the most suitable — French pitch i.e. A 435.

Sample pipes of the following stops — all the C’s:

all voiced on the pressure you consider best.

Would it be too much to ask for a complete sliderless chest of the “compound” type for an 8ft Tuba — scale to be 8ft.? This would be of enormous and much more informative than drawings.

I hope that this list will not frighten you, but you told me to ask for what I wanted. Will you please send the magnet first giving all electrical data as I want to have some made at once — what do they cost you to make?

I hope to be able to visit you in September.

Kind regards from all here.

Yours very sincerely,
Henry Willis

P. S. Reference 8 Station Swell Engine may I have the complete unit as well as the drawing?