Here at Williamson-Warne & Associates, we feel that service is extremely important, and is the cornerstone of our operation.
This is why we place such an emphasis on service.

Our staff is equipped to handle all service related problems.
Our shop is stocked with a copious amount of repair parts to ensure quick repairs.

We also have complete shop facilities to repair or rebuild any worn or damaged component, utilizing the finest materials and techniques available.

These in-house capabilities, ensures the good quality control as well as quick turn-around times.
Our service calls are scheduled well in advance to ensure being able to handle all of our clients during peak seasons, yet leaving enough space to handle any sudden emergencies.

All of our service calls are confirmed with post cards. We have commercially rated pilots on staff that can fly to reach even our most distant clients quickly and effortlessly if the need arises.

Like with any complex piece of equipment, such as your automobile, the pipe organ needs regular maintenance to operate and perform in the best condition that it can. Next to the building itself, the pipe organ will be the most expensive item that the pipe organ owner will own. It is therefore important that the instrument not only receive regular maintenance, but the best maintenance possible to ensure the best performance possible. With this section, we hope to answer some of the more important questions a pipe organ owner would have concerning maintenance. As we have stated that no 2 organs are quite alike, or used in the same way, so this section broaches the subject in a generalized fashion

How much service of an organ is required, and how is it scheduled?

First off, we recommend for most clients that a regular service call be performed 4 times a year; during Advent, during Lent, at the beginning of summer, and the beginning of fall. Depending on a variety of factors, some organs will need more service, and some will need less. Because organbuilders and organ technicians will become quite busy at times, especially Advent and Lent, they will plan their schedule out ahead of time. At Williamson-Warne & Associates, we usually rough plan our tuning schedule 1 year ahead, and then refine it as we get closer to the season. For our planning and scheduling, we prefer to inform our clients of the service call dates and times via a postcard. This has always work the best for us. We have always requested if a client requires a special service date just before a special concert or church service, that they contact us at least 6 weeks prior to the special service date, until that special service date occurs during Lent or Advent, then we request that the service date be requested 6 weeks prior to the beginning of Lent or Advent to ensure the requested time period. And remember, we do list on our website all special concerts and events in the news and events section!

What should be expected during a regular service call?

Again things that are going to be done will vary depending on the instrument, its size, its age, and the frequency of servicing. What is generally accomplished is an inspection of the blower and servicing as necessary, and overall inspection of the organ to note any problems occurring such as signs of water leakage or termites, or deterioration of components of the instrument, or problems that may be occurring, view the list of problems that was left from the organist, and address those that can be accomplished within the scope of the service call, and to do what tuning is needed within the scope, time limits, and budget of the service call. This will generally include the reed stops and some miscellaneous flu pipes.

If there are some unusual problems, is it a good idea to call the organbuilder ahead of time to discuss the situation?

Absolutely! A particular instrument or type of instrument may have a unique or unusual set of problems, which may entail needing special tools or parts to accomplish the repair. It is impossible for an organ technician to carry with them every conceivable tool or part to repair every problem on every type of organ, so it is certainly good to have some advance notice as to any and all types of unusual problems that occur.

Why is it important to leave notes to the organbuilder/technician at the console?

It is important for 4 reasons. First off, the notes can be used as a reminder of any unique or unusual problem that the organ has (and that the organbuilder/technician has brought special tools and/or parts for), and that organbuilder/technician needs to repair. Secondly, organs are large and complex instruments, and may have obscure or intermittent problems. These types of problems may be difficult to locate without extensive searching. It is certainly not the best usage of an organbuilder’s/technician’s time, or the organ owner’s financial resources for the organbuilder/technician to go through each and every note/function/control of an organ to find problems. Third, it gives the organist not only a chance to list all off the problems that need to be addressed, but also gives the organist a chance to prioritize the list of problems, in the instance of limited time of the organbuilder/technician, financial limitations or extreme extensiveness of the list of problems that need to be addressed during a service call. Otherwise, the organbuilder/technician may prioritized the list of problems if their own way, and may not repair the most important problems to the organist, if the list is extensive, and the time is limited. Lastly, it gives the organbuilder/technician a running record of the maintenance performed, so that they, as well as the organ owner or organist, can see trends or re-occurring problems. Williamson-Warne & Associates provides to all of our service clients, service notebooks where problems can be listed.

What if all of the things needed for the organ are not accomplished during the service call, what then?

There would be 3 reasons why an organbuilder/technician would not accomplish repairing a problem during a service call. The most obvious reason would be that the problem did not exist during the service call, such as with an intermittent problem. In this instance, it is always best to call and talk to the organbuilder/technician directly. The more information that the organist can provide the organbuilder/technician, the better, such as when the problem occurs, etc. Secondly, if the organbuilder’s time is limited due to either their own schedule, which of course would be most prevalent during the Advent and Lenten seasons, or the organ owner has set financial limitations, all of the repairs may not be able to be accomplished during the service call. In this instance an additional service call will need to be scheduled when the organbuilder/technician can schedule such an additional service call, or an additional service call can be scheduled when the organ owner can place such a service call within their budget. Lastly, some repairs, though seemingly minor in appearance, may be a major repair. As an example, a developing air leak (noise) could actually be a reservoir failing. Obviously a major repair cannot be accomplished during a service call. The organbuilder/technician will likely call the organ owner and/or send an estimate in writing as to the major repair needed and the approximate cost.

Why is regular service important?

Like with any piece of machinery, such as a car, maintenance is important to ensure that the organ will operate in the best condition that it can, and sound as good as it can. It also provides the organbuilder/technician an opportunity to inspect the instrument to inform the organ owner of developing major problems. It of course gives the organbuilder/technician the chance to do any necessary tuning, and repair any minor problems before they can develop into a large group of minor problems, or a major problem.

What can Williamson-Warne & Associates offer its clients?

The service department of Williamson-Warne & Associates is second to none! Our service department personal have years of vast experience in a wide variety of different styles and types of instruments from early mechanical action to modern-day solid state technology. Our service department, along with its vast experience, has access to, through our shop, a wide variety of not only off-the-shelf repair parts, but access to our extensive manufacturing capabilities to repair, rebuild, restore, or make new any part of the instrument necessary. We can offer not only regular maintenance, but offer emergency service, usually within 24 hours, even during the busiest times of the year. Our normal service area is the Southern California area, but with commercially rated pilots on our staff, we can offer service to organ owners outside our normal service area on a case-by-case basis. Our regular service clients need not worry about remembering to schedule service calls, as we automatically schedule service calls as per the clients desires, and the client is informed as to the anticipated service calls via a postcard.

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Artcraft
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Cable
California Organ Co.
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Estey
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Maas
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