Conacher & CompanyEstablished 1854 Pipe Organ Builders |  |
Conacher & CompanyEstablished 1854 Pipe Organ Builders | |
Peter Conacher was born in Scotland in 1823, a time when there were few organs in Scotland, and little opportunity for a career in organ building, tuning and restoration.Peter Conacher went to Leipzig where he was an apprentice organ builder and voicer.
On his return to England he worked for Hill & Sons, and Walker & Sons.
When Walker & Sons sent Peter Conacher to work on their new organ at Highfield Chapel, Huddersfield, he saw the opportunity to start his own firm in an area of rapid growth.
Peter Conacher started trading in 1854 with a partner called Brown, who soon lost heart and returned to London.
He took on a new partner, Joseph H. Hebblethwaite (a local gentleman and music-lover) and with his financial help built a new factory in George Street, equipped with a small steam engine which powered a circular saw.
Recitals on his new instruments were given to large audiences in the erecting hall of the factory by two young men, Mr. Albert L. Peace (later Dr. Peace, of St. George's Hall, Liverpool) and Mr. Walter Parratt (later Sir Walter Parratt, Master of the Royal Music).
On the death of Mr. Hebblethwaite, Peter Conacher was joined by his brother, and their first project was to build an organ for the Yorkshire Exhibition of 1866.
This instrument was awarded a grand medal and was sold to Huddersfield Parish Church.
In 1873 Springwood Organ Works was opened. It was said at the time to be the largest and best equipped in England, and with its large steam engine, full compliment of machinery and eighty craftsmen, built around thirty large organs each year.
After training in France, Peter's son, Joseph H. Conacher brought several French organ builders home with him and joined the family firm.
The firm went from strength to strength, but this was interrupted by a serious fire at Springwood Organ Works in 1910.
There soon followed the Great War, after which the building of new places of worship declined, but Peter Conacher & Company's work was still in demand.
The Depression and the Second World War followed, and many of Britain's old established organ builders closed down.
Today, Peter Conacher & Company is included on the Conservation Register maintained by the Conservation Unit of The Museums and Galleries Commission.
The firm concentrates on the high quality conservation and restoration of pipe organs, harmoniums and reed organs of all makes, and carries out general maintenance and tuning, as well as continuing act as a Conservator for museums.
© 1996- Conacher & Co.