David Bridgeman-Sutton meets - and is enchanted by - a WOOFYT. So what is a Woofyt when it's at home? Read on . . .
The Wonderful WOOFYT
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Are the children in picture 1 holding a seance with the boy - extreme right - standing by the fire-pump in case of unexpected consequence?
Well, no; they are playing a WOOFYT, or a Wooden One-octave Organ For Young Technologists. It has been said that organ-playing is a lonely occupation - but not so here! There are 19 players: one to each of the 13 pipes, two to operate the double-acting bellows (the fire-pump boy) and four to control wind pressure by bearing down on the wind reservoir. |
Pic. 1
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Pic. 2
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The diagram in picture 2 shows the scheme, starting upper left and working clockwise. The bellows fill the reservoir via two tubes and the reservoir team, guided by the manometer or pressure gauge, keeps the supply as steady as possible. This exercise in co-operation and co-ordination is perhaps the most demanding aspect of performing on WOOFYT.
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Pressure, nominally of about 2 ½ inches, steady or otherwise, is maintained in the tube passing to the key boxes which are shown in the lower row. There are thirteen of these, each with its corresponding pipe mounted on it. Each key operates a simple valve which admits wind to its pipe. All components - including the open wooden pipes - may be taken apart and re-assembled for teaching purposes.
Apart from length, the dimensions of all pipes are the same. This simplifies construction: it also tends to cause the longer ones to jump readily to the octave if they are at all overblown. This teaches a lesson in acoustics and doubtless encourages the maintenance of a steady wind
The project started when Bill Cleghorn, a manufacturer of industrial and marine pumps was looking for an original way of marking his company's fiftieth year. An "educational pump" seemed called for - and one that achieved some readily-discernible end. A water pump of some kind offered opportunities, amongst them, however, that of flooding an entire school - so air was decided upon instead.
To an organ buff like Bill, whose firm sponsors the Oundle Festival, there was only one end worth achieving - the production of sound from organ pipes and the development of WOOFYT resulted.
To an organ buff like Bill, whose firm sponsors the Oundle Festival, there was only one end worth achieving - the production of sound from organ pipes and the development of WOOFYT resulted.
Pic. 3
On one occasion, four WOOFYTS were played in chorus, requiring over 70 performers. To these were added another seventy performing on percussion, recorders and "anything that came to hand". The result was described as "if not entirely musical, certainly very sociable"!!!
As can be seen from picture 3, children enjoy the experience. It seems probable that some will want to learn more about the real thing and find themselves bitten by the organ bug - that life-long source of interest, joy and occasional exasperation. They will certainly be ready for a video programme on how the organ works.
Bill Cleghorn says "Our aim has not been commercial, though I would not rule out a commercial development in other hands than ours" . A video/DVD about the project is in course of preparation.
As can be seen from picture 3, children enjoy the experience. It seems probable that some will want to learn more about the real thing and find themselves bitten by the organ bug - that life-long source of interest, joy and occasional exasperation. They will certainly be ready for a video programme on how the organ works.
Bill Cleghorn says "Our aim has not been commercial, though I would not rule out a commercial development in other hands than ours" . A video/DVD about the project is in course of preparation.
Bill's email address is: mail@cleghorn.co.uk
and his postal address:
Cleghorn Waring Pumps Ltd, Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 1EZ. UK
and his postal address:
Cleghorn Waring Pumps Ltd, Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 1EZ. UK
David Bridgeman-Sutton,
January 9, 2004
January 9, 2004
Picture captions/credits:
All pictures thanks to Bill Cleghorn
All pictures thanks to Bill Cleghorn