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The Institute of British Organ Building centres its Register of Accreditation on six main disciplines.
These each represent a collection of core skills necessary to demonstrate professional competency in approaching and undertaking work of that nature. For assistance, a summary of each discipline is provided below. Use the link on the right for specific details relating to accreditation inspection criteria.
| Tuning and Maintenance This category covers ordinary day-to-day maintenance and possession of, or ready access to, the skills and facilities necessary for the minor repairs of and renewals which arise alongside such maintenance. |
Historic Restoration Encompassing organs of all periods and types of mechanism, the term Historic Restoration is used here specifically to describe substantial work which deliberately avoids alteration of existing instruments tonally or mechanically, except in the context of a carefully researched and documented return to a specific earlier state. On occasion such a return may involve a degree of conjecture, based upon surviving contemporary material or documentation, and using appropriate materials or techniques. Projects which gain accreditation in this category will have involved: a) an initial written report written by the organ builder with justification of the approach to be taken; b) a written and photographic record of what is done; and c) a final written report by the organ builder on the completed work. Where renewal or repair of worn components is unavoidable, then materials, techniques and surface finishes as close as possible to the originals will be used. Practices such as unnecessary repainting and polishing of surfaces, avoidable substitution of modern materials for old, alteration of sound or of pitch, and so on will not qualify as Historic Restoration. Although certain builders specialise in particular periods, these criteria are applied here equally whether in relation to ancient organs, 19th-century mechanical or tubular-pneumatic instruments, or organs of the 20th century with electric or electro-pneumatic action. Builders accredited in Historic Restoration will have submitted examples for inspection which meet these criteria, though the diverse nature of some builders' work may mean that they also undertake projects which do not fall into this category. Builders accredited in this category should make clear, in every proposal, the rationale of the work that is proposed. |
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Cleaning and Overhaul This category covers the skills and workshop facilities necessary for periodic overhaul without major alteration, including overhauling of soundboards, releathering of bellows, routine pipe repair and so on. Whilst some members may be ready to include minor tonal or other changes in such an operation, work in this category may share the criteria that form part of the philosophy of the Historic Restoration category, such as non-intrusive repair and renewal of perishable materials on a like-for-like basis. |
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New Electric-action Organs This category refers to instruments which have at least been designed and largely manufactured by the member, though they may include some bought-in parts. Some new organs may include older casework or a small proportion of other materials from an earlier instrument. |
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New Tracker-action Organs This category refers to instruments which have at least been designed and largely manufactured by the member, though they may include some bought-in parts. Some new organs may include older casework or a small proportion of other materials from an earlier instrument. |
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