Kenneth Tickell & Co

[Guest]

It appears to have gone unnoticed, but it appears that Tickell and Co are no longer in business their website isn't available and see this - https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04550586

[mw963]

Happened a while back I believe. I don't think they had much work after Worcester; however big a job one has in hand, one has to keep the orders coming in.

Peter Collins is another example.

[Roger Judd]

Yes ... this is very old news, and very sad ... he was an excellent builder. Their instrument for Manchester Cathedral was the last job they did, I think. Yesterday's news too was really shocking, that Noel Mander's old business has called in the administrators. So many fine restorations and new builds to the firm's credit - the most recent at Waltham Abbey.
RJ

[mw963]

You're quite right Roger (as always). It was post Manchester that they had very little (so one gathered) work to keep them going......

[Roger Judd]

No ... not always!
RJ

[mw963]

More right than me though!

[Finzi4ever]

This is very sad news indeed. They have been excellent craftsmen and voicers, not least the late Ken himself. I first came across his fine work at Douai Abbey.

[Wolsey]

Yes ... this is very old news, and very sad ... he was an excellent builder. Their instrument for Manchester Cathedral was the last job they did, I think.
RJ

Their last job was a teaching/practice instrument for the new music school of King's College School, Wimbledon. Sadly, I cannot post a photo of it because this forum only allows the uploading of .jpg files from a URL.

[ardcarp]

Tickell made some really good modest-sized two manual and pedal instruments, e.g. the one in Honiton Parish Church. West end gallery position, lovely case, werk-prinzip, etc, etc.



For a smallish firm to extend itself to Manchester Cathedral size must present all sorts of problems from the business point of view.

[Wolsey]

For a smallish firm to extend itself to Manchester Cathedral size must present all sorts of problems from the business point of view.

Why so? Worcester was, I think, their first cathedral instrument.

[Roger Judd]

Yes ... their instrument at Honiton is absolutely lovely, as is the one in St Mary-le-Bow in the City of London - both hugely musical and satisfying to play. I have a high regard for their instrument at Worcester, quite I've played a number of times, both in recital and as an accompanying instrument. For reason that I don't fully understand, it hasn't been playable for, I think, several years. A large electronic facsimile is doing duty.
RJ

[ardcarp]

Why so? Worcester was, I think, their first cathedral instrument.

I guess Kenneth started off with himself and a few other hand-picked colleagues, all highly skilled in their field. His premises might have been quite modest too. He probably started off with one organ at a time, or maybe finishing one while competing for another. This is quite a common business model for instrument makers in several fields. There is a bit of cash-flow in regular tuning and maintenance, but because organs are 'bespoke', it's difficult to balance the books at the best of times.

Then imagine you have to upscale everything. A mighty monster such as Manchester must have involved employing many other skill-sets in design, electronics (yes I know it's mainly mechanical), structural engineers and so on. Not to mention quite a burden of admin, H&S etc, etc.

When all that comes to an end you can either hope to keep on bidding for and getting big projects around the world, or you can lay off loads of people and go small again. It isn't easy, and I dare say the Covid thing has seen off many a small business. The demise of Kenneth himself must have been a big blow.

Sadly the word 'business' has to play a big part, even when your main interest is the skill and magic of what you are doing. I hope that answers your question, Wolsey.

[mopsus]

I believe there were some teething problems with the Manchester instrument? This was given as part of the reason for discouraging visiting choirs a few years ago. Tickell did a lovely job on the rebuild at Little St Mary's, Cambridge.