The Compton was one of a small group of organs specified by Harold Ramsey for Union Cinemas, referred to as a ‘Compton Special’. It was originally built for the Davenport Cinema in Stockport and opened there on the 17th June 1937 by organist Harold Betts. In March 1997 the cinema closed and the organ was brought by the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust and removed to storage. In 2018 it was installed here at the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre.
Originally built with 6 ranks of pipes, a further 3 were added when installed here and the original relays replaced with a uniflex system. The organ also originally had a melotone unit but sadly this ceased to work some 30 years ago and so a digital reproduction has been produced.
The chamber layout is as follows:
MAIN
Diapason
Flute
Strings
Clarinet *
SOLO
Tibia
Krummet
Tromba
Vox Humana *
Oboe *
Usual tonal and non tonal percussion and novelty sound effects
* denotes ranks added after installation at Peel Green