Charles Ruggles Pipe Organs

Terms of Sale

Unless otherwise specified, the following applies to the sale of all products and services of Charles M. Ruggles Pipe Organs.

PRELIMINARY QUOTATIONS

Preliminary dispositions and freehand sketches of proposed installations are supplied at no charge for information and comparison. They are the property of the builder and are not to be given to third parties. For the purpose of making proposals, the customer shall provide drawings of his premises. Charges for additional drawings and consultations will be billed on a time and material basis. These costs will be credited to the downpayment of an organ ordered as a result of these services. Prices given in preliminary quotations are firm for three months from the date of quotation and will be raised by 2% every three months thereafter if not secured by a contract agreement. Quoted times of delivery are subject to prior sale, and are only estimates.

CASEWORK AND OTHER DETAILS

The price quoted for an organ includes a free-standing case of good proportions, having appropriate moldings and pipe shades. Gilding, where appropriate, and other ornamentation of the builder's design may be added at extra cost. Swell shutters, controlled by a foot lever, for one division of the organ may be included in the organ for an additional $2,000 to $4,000, depending upon the size of the division to be enclosed. A case may be painted a solid color at no extra cost.

All instruments are standard with slider windchests of builder's proven climate and pollution-proof design, mechanical key action with wooden trackers, trouble-free mechanical stop action, and attached keydesk. For organs with pedals, the builder provides as standard equipment at the quoted price a flat, non-radiating pedalboard which he considers superior from an artistic and technical viewpoint, but as an option at $1,000 extra will supply a concave, radiating pedalboard in instruments with the 56/30 note compass.

Lumber used in the cases, windchests, wood pipes, and other acoustically sensitive parts is selected from the finest seasoned solid woods. Plywood is primarily used for blower boxes and some mechanical parts. In no case will schemes to reduce the cost of an organ be considered which would affect its artistic or technical quality or its durability.

GUARANTEE

All stationary instruments are fully covered by a five year guarantee against defects in workmanship, materials, and design. The builder reserves the right to carry out guarantee repair work as he considers best for the instruments. One trip for the purpose of inspecting, adjusting, and tuning the organ will be provided free of charge at an appropriate time after about one year of use for organs costing over $16,000. Otherwise, transportation of an instrument to the builder's shop or of workmen to the site of an instrument for purposes of any guarantee repair is to be paid by the customer. All instruments are made to withstand normal indoor atmospheric conditions in the continental United States without special humidification; however, during winter heating season, humidification is strongly advised. Key action is self-adjusting, and metal flue pipes have soldered-on caps or are cone-tuned for greater tuning stability and best tone quality. Guarantee does not cover malfunctioning due to excessive dryness or overheating induced by an improperly designed or operating heating/air-conditioning system, etc., or due to abnormal moisture from water leakage, nor does it cover damage from insects, rodents, or abusive treatment. Alteration of an instrument by third parties will terminate all provisions of the guarantee, unless approved by the builder.

Maintenance of an organ after the guarantee period has expired can be arranged on mutually agreeable terms.

SHIPPING

Prices for instruments are FOB builder's shop. Shipment is normally made by moving van or by a rental truck driven by the builder.

INSURANCE

All materials and parts of an instrument under construction are fully protected against damage and loss until delivery to customer's premises. The customer shall insure the builder's interests in the organ while on the customer's premises until final payment has been made.

PAYMENT PROCEDURE

For purposes of financial planning, payments for an organ will be due approximately as follows:

Downpayment: 20% due with signed contract agreement
Materials payment: 10% due about six months after signing
Final payment: 10% due upon completion of organ

Balance of the total cost will be in amounts running from about $3,000 to $20,000, which will be invoiced as various parts of the organ are completed in the builder's shop. Dollar amounts for all of these payments will be stated in the agreements. Other payment arrangements may be considered. Overdue payments will be subject to a service charge of 1½ % per month on invoices not paid after 30 days.

SECURING AN ORDER

When details pertaining to a tentative design have been agreed upon by the customer and the builder and the customer is ready to place an order for an instrument, the builder should be notified immediately so a signed contract agreement may be prepared which properly specifies these details. Two copies will be sent to the purchaser to be signed. One copy will be returned with the downpayment as soon as possible.

ORDER OF DELIVERY

Ordinarily, deliveries of organs will follow in the sequence in which signed agreements and downpayments are received at the builder's workshop, with the exception that small instruments may occasionally be fitted into the work sequence to be made along with larger organs.

ESCALATOR CLAUSE

As protection against unreasonable inflation, agreements may include a surcharge on each invoice, based upon the U.S. Department of Commerce labor statistics.

INSTALLATION

The customer is expected to provide conditions which will permit the installation and voicing of the organ with a minimum of interruption to the organbuilders. Necessary keys shall be provided. Lodging for the organbuilders is to be provided by the customer. This may be in church members homes with provision to prepare breakfast, or in dormitory rooms in the case of a university.

MODIFICATIONS TO A BUILDING

The price of an instrument does not cover any structural changes to the building where an organ will be located. The customer shall provide suitable electrical connections for the organ and lights. The builder will supply design data needed by the customer to assist in the design of any modifications to the structure housing the organ. The builder reserves the right to delay the installation of an organ where necessary structural changes have not been properly provided.