On the 6th of April 1998 Flentrop Orgelbouw dismantled a small organ in the Waagtoren (the Weigh-house tower) which was connected to the timepiece of the tower. The old wind-chest, which has room for 2 sets of 9 pipes, dates from the end of the 16th century. The organ could be heard in connection with the mechanical ‘Ruiterspel’ (‘cavalcade-display’). The 10 extant pipes from the instrument (2 sets of 5 pipes: 5 flue pipes and 5 reed pipes) were placed at the beginning of the 20th century by the organ-builder Vermeulen from Alkmaar. Inscriptions on the old 16th century pallets (probably dating from the 18th century, according to the handwriting) indicate the notes:
G A B H c d f g? e
(probably the pallets e, f and g changed places during a later repair)
The 2 sets of 5 extant pipes functioned as:
d# - g - a# - d# - f
With the restoration by Flentrop Orgelbouw (2000) two sets of nine pipes (a Trompet 8’, with brass resonators, and a Gedekt 8’) were placed on the wind-chest, sounding at the following pitches:
e’-flat f’ g’ a’-flat b’-flat c’’ d’’-flat e’’-flat f’’
The chosen pitch corresponds with the lowest note of the carillon.
Furthermore measures were taken to protect the organ against the permanent occupants of the tower; the instrument was delivered ‘duifdicht’ (pigeon-proof)…
©Frank van Wijk, Bergen NH, April/Mei 2000
