Father Henry Willis: Organ Builder and his Successors

[1956] First edition, first printing.  64pp, plus numerous leaves of black and white plate illustrations following text.  In grey cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on the front panel.  8vo.  Cloth very slightly pushed at spine ends else neat, clean, bright and tight throughout.  In its original dust wrapper, gently rubbed at corners and spine ends, a little toned in margins, slightly shelf worn, price clipped.  Some very slight spotting on endpapers else internally neat, clean, bright and tight.

A biography of the lfie and work of 'Father' Herny Willis, the organ-builder and founder of the firm Henry Willis & Sons.  The Willis firm was regarded as the leading organ builder of the Victorian era and, in the 1860s, introduced Scudamore Organs, instruments suitable for slightly smaller spaces such as chapels and village churches.  Willis organs have been installed in St Paul's, Lincoln Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral and the Chapel of King's College London.  Father Willis won a gold medal in the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park.