The Organ Builders

established 1902

History

These are the founding partners of Cooper, Gill & Tomkins. From the left: H. Gill, W.C. Cooper, A.F. Tomkins. Taken in 1913.

      Cooper, Gill & Tompkins (now "The Organ Builders") celebrated 100 years of pipe organ building in Southern Africa in 2002. This is the oldest organ building firm in Southern Africa still in existence and they have played a valuable role in the cultural and religious life of this country for a hundred years.

      Although having spent time in South Africa installing the Binns organ in Cape Town's Metropolitan Methodist in 1898, it was in 1902 that the company's founder, William Charles Cooper, emigrated from England to start an organ building business in South Africa. He was joined shortly afterwards by Harold Gill who had been his collegue at Binns Organ Builders (later taken over by Rushworth & Dreaper). In 1905 the third member, Alfred Fellows Tomkins, from Norman & Beard, England, arrived to install the magnificent Norman and Beard organ in Cape Town City Hall. After working on an informal basis for some years, the company Cooper, Gill & Tompkins was formally established in 1912. Between them they were responsible for the installation of organs in the City Halls of not only Cape Town, but also Johannesburg (1916) and Pretoria (1935). At the time of installation (1916) the organ in the Johannesburg City Hall was the largest organ in the southern hemisphere with 6 532 pipes costing £13 153 16s 7d.

      Other notable instruments installed by the company include those in Christ the King Roman Catholic Cathedral, Johannesburg (1960); St George's Anglican Cathedral, Cape Town (1909); the Cathedral of St Michael and St George, Grahamstown (1934); St John's Cathedral Bulawayo (1914); Central Methodist Hall (1929); Strand Street Lutheran, Cape Town; Bethlehem-West NG Church and the Anglican Cathedral of St Mary, Johannesburg (1929) amongst many others. The organ at St Mary's Cathedral has seven wind reservoirs which use a variety of wind pressures ranging from 2¾ inch to 17 inches. The longest pipe in this organ is the 32 foot Open Wood which is made of solid wood2 inches thick and weighs ¾ ton. In 1929 it had to be delivered by ox wagon. Today the estimated value of this instument is R 15 million.

      Organs installed in schools include Bishops, Cape Town (1933); Rondebosch Boys School (1995); St John's College, Houghton (1964); Peterhouse School, Zimbabwe (1966); St Stithians, Johannesburg (1997); St Cyprian's Girls, Cape Town (1938); St Andrew's School, Senderwood (1984); and the three manual Norman and Beard organ recently installed for the Drakensburg Boys Choir (1998) amongst others. The Company recently installed the historic Alhambra Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in the Nico Malan/Artscape Theatre (1998).  They have also erected, tuned and maintained hundreds of smaller organs for all church denominations even in the furthest corners of this country as well as Zimbabwe.

      Over the past 100 years, the company has taken in service organ builders from well known overseas firms such as Harrison & Harrison, Walker, Rushworth & Dreaper, Bins, Hill, Norman & Beard, as well as apprenticed local organ builders. Today The Organ Builders has representives in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. The Cape Town partner, James Riadore, also celebrates 50 years as an organ builder this year, having started his training in 1952 at Hill, Norman & Beard.