CATHEDRAL BELLS "ON THE AIR"

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 47, 8 June 1928, Page 4

CATHEDRAL BELLS "ON THE AIR"

SOME NOTEWORTHY BROADCASTS FINE TRANSMISSIONS BY 3YA. RAvI0 listeners have been impressed by the recent fine broadcasts from Christchurch Cathedral, which have been said to equal any of the eathedral broadeasts done by the B.B.C. at Home. The broadcasts referred to-Miss Maude Royden and the Diamond Jubilee service-took place on Sunday afternoons, and in the former instance was rebroadeast by 2Y¥A. The second broadeast marked a notable occasion, and the transmission was specially good, the broadcast of the singing and of the organ music being perfect. The service was also noteworthy from the fact that ministers of outside congregations:took part... The Rey. J. K. Archer, minister in charge of the Baptist Chureh, Sydenham, and first Labour Mayor of Christchurch, preached the sermon. SOMEWHAT of a novelty, but a most interesting one, was the broadcast of the Cathedral chimes on Monday, May 28, marking the sixtieth anniversary. of the proclaiming of the Borough of Christchurch. The occasion was when the Cathedral bells were put "on the air." The radio operators had much difficulty in as- | certaining the best position for the microphone, Two positions were finally decided upon-one in the tower and one on a balcony on the other side of the Square. It was the latter which was eyentually used. The very fine organ installed last’ year by Messrs. Jlill, Norman, and Beard contributed largely to the success of the broadcasts. This organ is considered to be the finest and largest church organ south of the Line. It has three manuals (three rows of keys) and pedals, and sixty-six stops. besides various couplers and controls. There are nearly 3500 pipes, ranging from 382 feet to three-quarters of an inch in length. The console (or keyboard) is detached from the main orgah, the only connection being an electric cable about 100 feet in length. Miles of wire and. thousands of electric contacts and electro-magnets are used in controlling the various stops. NSIDE the organ are forests of pipes, many of them contained in huge chambers as big as a drawingroom. These chambers are called "swell boxes," and are used to control the power of the sound. As the fronts of the swell boxes are opened and closed so does the sound increase and decrease in intensity. Beneath the chancel is the machinery | for supplying the wind to the organ. | This is composed of huge rotary fans, driven by a 16 hp. electric motor. Connected to this motor there is also an electric dynamo, which is used to supply the current for the action of the organ.