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For more than a quarter century, we have constructed fine pipe organs for churches, schools and private individuals. In every project, whether for religious or secular institutions, we strive to create timeless works of musical art that faithfully perform the literature, inspire the composer and improviser, and are a joy to both player and listener.

Construction of Op. 91 for the Chapel of Merton College, Oxford, is well underway, with shipment to England planned in the first part of May. Please visit our page of construction photos.

Undertaken as part of Merton’s 750th anniversary celebration in 2014, the new organ will be completed by the end of 2013. The oldest of the 38 Oxford colleges, Merton has a vibrant chapel music program under the leadership of Peter Phillips and Benjamin Nicholas, the Reed Rubin Directors of Music. The Rev Dr Simon Jones is the Chaplain, and Paul Hale is serving the College as organ consultant.

The Omaha World-Herald recently published a nice article about the Merton organ, which you can find here.

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The installation of our new console for the Hook-Hastings organ at Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly, Massachusetts, was completed on 23 March 2013 and first used for Palm Sunday Mass. Built in 1908 as Op. 2180, the parish’s instrument was mechanically and tonally restored by the Spencer Organ Co. in 2007, with the exception of the 1950s replacement console by W.W. Laws, which was retained. Our new console is patterned after existing Hook-Hastings consoles of the period, chiefly that of Op. 2082, originally built for the W. Duncan McKim residence in Washington, D.C. in 1905 and now owned by Baltimore organ builder David Storey. Diane Meredith Belcher is Director of Music and Organist at Saint Mary Star of the Sea.

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We have been engaged by Dr. Arthur Halbardier to refurbish a three-stop Flentrop organ that is to be donated to The Baroque Room, a a performance space located in the Lowertown neighborhood of downtown Saint Paul. Among other tasks, our work involves repair of the pipework, repitching of the instrument to A-415, and the construction of a movable platform.

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Need a smile? Check out a few videos of the street organ we restored for Orange City, Iowa’s Tulip Festival, which was played in our City Square on a beautiful spring evening before being returned to Orange City. Originally built by Charles Marenghi & Cie. of Paris, the instrument was rebuilt by Jacques Minning of Rotterdam in the 1950s. Our work consists of restorative repairs. Dick Lokemoen and Linda McDonald have served as advisors to this project.

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In celebration of our company’s 35th anniversary in 2009, we made an online exhibit of some of Lynn Dobson’s drawings. One of the most highly-regarded case designers of his generation, Dobson has proved to be equally at home in modern or historically-inspired idioms. Lynn A. Dobson: Drawings & Projects presents a selection of work from 1974–2009, and includes unrealized designs as well as built instruments.

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Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd.
200 North Illinois Street • Post Office Box 25
Lake City, Iowa 51449 USA
Tel 712/464-8065 • Fax 712/464-3098
info@dobsonorgan.com

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