About the company
So, you want to know more about the company? Well, A. J. Carter Professional Organ Building Services, until recently known as A. J. Carter Organ Builder, is owned and run by two main people. Mr Andrew J. Carter takes care of the actual pipe organs whereas his wife, Mrs Jane Carter takes care of all the essential office work.
Mr Carter has been working with church organs for over 30 years. He originally learnt his trade with J. W. Walker and Sons Ltd after leaving school at the age of 16. During these early days, he worked on many of the famous Walker jobs such as Brompton Oratory, Blackburn Cathedral, Paisley Abbey and Kendal Parish Church. By his early twenties, he was in charge of many instruments around London and the Home counties.
In 1973, he moved to Kettering to become the Midlands Tuner Representative. Four years later, in 1977, he moved to Yorkshire as Walkers were in desperate need for quality tuner and craftsman to replace the retiring Arthur Cooper. During this period, he was in charge of rebuilding such Instruments as Bradford Cathedral, Rochdale Town Hall and St. Olaves, York.
In 1984, after much deliberation, he decided to break away from Walkers and set up his own company. Since then, he has maintained his position as the Walkers Tuning Representative, on a sub-contracting basis, for the North of England, but has also established a large Tuning connection of his own. In addition to tunings though, he has also undertaken some very fine rebuilds and restorations over the past ten or so years. Many of these can be seen in the 'Past Work' section of this website. Just click on the relevant icon to the left of the screen.
Mr Carter now looks after some of the most prestigious instruments in this area. These include Leeds Parish Church, Leeds Town Hall, Doncaster Parish Church, Rochdale Town Hall, Bolton Town Hall and Grimbsy Parish Church. Not only does Mr Carter look after many of the larger instruments in the area, he also looks after a substantial number of smaller organs which he considers to be just as important.
Mr Carter prides himself on the quality of the work offered to customers (as his workforce will happily vouch for!). Because of his attention to detail and his persuit for perfection with all instruments, he has been registered with the Guild of Master Craftsmen and was one of the first members of the new ruling body in Organ Building, the Institute of British Organ Building, (I.B.O.). The I.B.O. also recognises his quality as the handbook entry shows - '...Inspectors noted wide tuning experience, painstaking and practical approach to craftsmanship, and a workshop well-equipped for the range of work offered...'.
Mr Carter employes a number of staff and has access to a number of highly professional associates should the need arise. This gives the company the flexibility to handle both the smaller jobs and the larger jobs.