The contract for maintenance and tuning of the new £1.2 million organ in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, has been won by Wood of Huddersfield.

The announcement represents a substantial coup for the family firm, founded in 1965 by HOA committee member, Philip Wood.

The four-manual Marcussen, which dominates the £42 million hall, is the biggest mechanical action instrument to built in this country this century.

A voicer from the Danish firm visited tracker-action organs built by Wood in Manchester and Huddersfield in November. Shortly afterwards the contract was awarded - just in time for co-director David Wood to come to the rescue at the opening recital.

Swell pedals on the mobile console had become jammed during Wayne Marshall's afternoon rehearsal and the player's attempt to free them had bent a mounting plate.

A temporary repair was finally effected five minutes before the recital began to a packed hall.

Wood, who is impressed with Marcussen's quality and craftsmanship said: "We are very proud to be associated with this instrument."

But not everyone is happy with it. There is discontent in some quarters that the hall's owners opted for a continental builder and some players are unimpressed by the result.

Several at the opening recital, including two cathedral organists, were critical of the instrument's lack of impact.

HOA president Robert Cockroft, who has played the 75-stop instrument, said: "The workmanship is superb and there is some lovely voicing but the overall sound is mild-mannered to the point of reticence. The great is polite to an alarming degree."