![Charles Spackman Barker 001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Charles_Spackman_Barker_001.jpg)
Charles Spackman Barker (10 Oct 1806 – 26 Nov 1879 in
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest Town status in the United Kingdom, town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the c ...
, England) was a British inventor and
organ
Organ may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a part of an organism
Musical instruments
* Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone
** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument
** Hammond ...
builder.
Barker was born in January 1806 in
Walcot, Somerset, England. His father died when he was five and he was adopted by his godfather. After he left school, he was apprenticed to an apothecary and chemist in
Bath, Somerset
Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...
. He disliked this work and left to learn organ building. During this time, the organist at
York Minster
The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the cathedral of York, North Yorkshire, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The minster is the seat of the Archbis ...
complained to Barker that the
tracker action
Tracker action is a term used in reference to pipe organs and steam calliopes to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe(s) of the corresponding note. This is ...
was so heavy that at times he had to stop playing. Barker started doing experiments with compressed air. At first he tried using pistons but found that the friction was too great. He then developed a bellows system which was satisfactory, resulting in a primitive type of
pneumatic lever.
He approached Messrs. Hill, the builders of the organ at York Minster but they were unreceptive. He therefore decided to go to France.
He went to France in 1837 where he met
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (; 4 February 1811 – 13 October 1899) was a French organ builder. He has the reputation of being the most distinguished organ builder of the 19th century. He pioneered innovations in the art and science of organ buildi ...
who was working on the organ at the
Basilica of St Denis
The Basilica of Saint-Denis (french: Basilique royale de Saint-Denis, links=no, now formally known as the ) is a large former medieval abbey church and present cathedral in the commune of Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris. The building ...
, near Paris. In order to protect his invention, he took out a French patent in 1839. Soon after, the pneumatic lever was applied to the organ at St. Denis with great success.
He also met Albert Peschard, organist of the
Church of St. Etienne, Caen, who commenced to experiment in electro-pneumatics in 1860, and early in 1861 communicated his discoveries to Barker. From that date until Barker left France, he collaborated with him.
He exhibited work at the
Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Great Exhibition or the Crystal Palace Exhibition (in reference to the temporary The Crystal Palace, structure in which it was held), was an International Exhib ...
in 1851, and went on to pioneer the use of electricity in organs.
Henry Bryceson
Henry Bryceson (1775–1870) was an organ builder and pioneer of electric action in England during the 1860s.
Henry was born in Perth, Scotland, whose St Leonard's-in-the-Fields Church still operates one of his organs.
Henry Bryceson founded a ...
made organs to his patent under licence in England.
He received the
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
in 1855 but was expelled from France in 1870 owing to the expulsion of aliens consequent to the
Franco-Prussian War. He died in
Maidstone
Maidstone is the largest Town status in the United Kingdom, town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the c ...
, Kent, on 26 November 1879.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Charles S.
British pipe organ builders
1806 births
1879 deaths
British expatriates in France