George Fincham
Encyclopedia
George Fincham & Sons was an Australia
n company that designed and built pipe organs.
It was a family run company, founded in 1862 by George Fincham and based in Melbourne
, Australia
. The company has completed many projects in more than a century of organ building. It closed down in February 2006.
; died 21 December 1910 in Melbourne
) was son and grandson of master Organ builders so it was inevitable that he became interested in Organ building. He was apprenticed in 1842-49 to the London organ builder Henry Bevington, and then worked as a foreman for James Bishop & Son.
George Fincham emigrated to Australia in 1852 and established his business in Melbourne
, Victoria
in 1862. In 1881 he established an Adelaide branch, managed by Arthur Hobday, his ex-apprentice, until sold in 1894. In 1904 he opened a branch in Sydney, and he had agents in Perth (1897) and Brisbane (1902). Altogether he built about 200 organs for cathedrals and churches and supplied pipe work and parts to organ builders throughout Australasia. His integrity and the quality of the organs he built overcame the prejudice towards colonial work. He was outstanding among Australian organ builders for his skill, his business ability and his readiness to keep pace with modern trends. He patented many improvements; most of the organs he built had mechanical action and from 1886 some had tubular-pneumatic.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n company that designed and built pipe organs.
It was a family run company, founded in 1862 by George Fincham and based in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The company has completed many projects in more than a century of organ building. It closed down in February 2006.
History of the company
George Fincham (born 20 August 1828 at St Pancras, Middlesex, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; died 21 December 1910 in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
) was son and grandson of master Organ builders so it was inevitable that he became interested in Organ building. He was apprenticed in 1842-49 to the London organ builder Henry Bevington, and then worked as a foreman for James Bishop & Son.
George Fincham emigrated to Australia in 1852 and established his business in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1862. In 1881 he established an Adelaide branch, managed by Arthur Hobday, his ex-apprentice, until sold in 1894. In 1904 he opened a branch in Sydney, and he had agents in Perth (1897) and Brisbane (1902). Altogether he built about 200 organs for cathedrals and churches and supplied pipe work and parts to organ builders throughout Australasia. His integrity and the quality of the organs he built overcame the prejudice towards colonial work. He was outstanding among Australian organ builders for his skill, his business ability and his readiness to keep pace with modern trends. He patented many improvements; most of the organs he built had mechanical action and from 1886 some had tubular-pneumatic.
Notable organs
His notable instruments include:- Melbourne Exhibition,1866
- Royal Exhibition BuildingRoyal Exhibition BuildingThe Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage Site-listed building in Melbourne, Australia, completed in 1880. It is located at 9 Nicholson Street in the Carlton Gardens, flanked by Victoria, Nicholson, Carlton and Rathdowne Streets, at the north-eastern edge of the central business district...
, Melbourne, 1880 - St Kilda Town HallSt Kilda Town HallSt Kilda Town Hall is a city hall in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.-Architecture:The design by local architect William Pitt in the Classical Revival style. It was built in 1890. Pitt's grand vision for the town hall was never completed...
, 1892 (Destroyed by fire 7 April 1991) - St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, 1962