The pipe chambers contained only windchests and pipes, as the diaphragm-type regulators were accommodated in an intermediate area located above the basement but below the pipes. Wind pressures ranging from three to 20 inches were provided by Kinetic blowers housed in a basement room. The cost of the instrument was $31,500.

On the face of it, the scheme was a fairly straightforward four-manual design, but Pedal and Great organs with enclosed and unenclosed sections, together with a floating department and a duplexed division (playable from manuals one and three), made it more complex than first impressions might engender. Matters were further complicated by a few enclosed stops on unenclosed departments and vice versa.

The instrument's book-type contract, measuring 8½"x11", ran to 42 single-sided pages and included many of the phrases and conditions that were to later appear in the contract for the Convention Hall organ. Each organ builder's bid had to be accompanied by a certified check as proof of financial stability, and the successful bidder had to post a $5,000 bond for "the faithful performance of the contract". The following extract from the contract makes it abundantly clear that Richards, as Organ Architect, was to have absolute charge of everything:

"The architect shall make all necessary interpretations as to the meaning and intention of the contract and the specifications, shall give all orders and directions contemplated under this contract, and shall determine in all cases the quality, acceptability and fitness of the work, and especially of all the pipe work, voicing and action, which is to be performed or furnished under this contract, and shall determine all questions in relation to said work, and shall decided every question which shall arise relative to the fulfillment of this contract on the part of the contractor. His determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the contractor, and in case any question pertaining to this contract shall arise between the parties hereto, such decision shall be condition precedent to the right of the contractor to receive any money under this contract."

The timetable for construction set out in the contract was as follows:

"(1) deliver the orchestral and choir chests within 60 calendar days; (2) complete the orchestral and choir, including the floating organ and at least two pedal stops, within 90 calendar days; (3) deliver great, solo and pedal chests within 120 calendar days; (4) deliver temporary console and have at least two divisions in operation within 150 calendar days; (5) deliver permanent console, all chests, pipe work, and electrical connections within 180 calendar days; (6) complete the organ within 200 calendar days after being notified that the sites are available to commence work."

For interest's sake and in order to ensure that there is a published record of this now little-known but once proud and famous instrument, sections of the High School organ's contracts are reproduced hereafter. The opportunity has been taken to correct some spelling errors and the stop lists are shown in a format that is slightly different to the original(s), e.g. the summary of registers, voices, etc. at the start of each section does not appear in the contacts. Nevertheless, the information is essentially the same.

The organ shall consist of four manuals, compass CC to c4, sixty-one notes. Pedal organ compass CCC to G, thirty-two notes, together with all couplers, expression pedals, etcetera, thereto belonging. The four manuals [top to bottom: Solo, Orchestral, Great, Choir] are to command a great organ, a solo organ, an orchestral organ, a choir organ, and an antiphonal organ, besides the pedal organ.