History

André Thomas was born in Ster-Francorchamps in 1939.

After training as a cabinetmaker, he turned towards organ building in 1957 and worked for 7 years in a regional enterprise.

In February 1965 he started his own workshop in his native village, while making sure of continuing his training by study trips abroad.

In 1982, the business became a limited liability company and since the 1st of April 2000 has been directed by Dominique Thomas, the oldest son.

The Thomas organ company now has a staff of 14 and carry out all the stages of the construction or restoration of organs: keyboards, cases, wood carvings, soundboards, bellows, action, wooden and metal pipes, voicing…

In 38 years, 117 new instruments have left this workshop, which draws its inspiration from old instruments for the conception and construction of its organs.

The most memorable realisations are:

- 1989, St Pierre, Lessines, II/Ped, 30 stops

- 1990, St Amand, Waregem, III/Ped, 54 stops

- 1992, St Remacle, Spa, II/Ped, 26 stops

- 1993, Nouan-le-Fuzelier (F), III/Ped, 18 stops

- 1994, Mürringen, II/Ped, 13 stops

- 1995, Ste. Marguerite, Liège, I/Ped, 10 stops

- 1996, Abbey of Leffe, II/Ped, 25 stops

- 1997, Recht, II/Ped, 17 stops

- 1997, St. Pierre, Blois (F), II/Ped, 14 stops

- 1998, Villers-la-Ville, II/Ped, 14 stops

- 1999, Kettenis, II/Ped, 18 stops

- 2001, Notre Dame d'Hurtebise, II/Ped, 15 stops

- 2001 Hachiville (L), II/P, 14 stops

- 2002, "La Cotellerie" BAZOUGERS (F), III/Ped., 23 stops.

- 2002, Gedinne (B): église N-D, II/Ped., 14 stops.

- 2002, FLORENNES: Collégiale St. Gangulphe, II/Ped, 12stops.

- 2004, Hoogstraten (B) Sint-Katharinakerk : 2 Man., P., 14 Reg.

- 2005, Gilsdorf (L) : 2 Man., P., 23 Reg.

- 2005, Zulte (B) Sint-Petruskerk : 2 Man., P., 12 Reg.

- 2007, WESTMALLE ( B ) Abbaye, composition : 2cl & Péd / 12 reg.

Several new instruments are now being built and more orders are coming in:

	Composition
STRASBOURG (F) Eglise réformée du Bouclier	2 cl. & Péd. / 30 reg.
MAREDSOUS (Abbaye)	2 cl. & Péd. / 7,5 reg.
CHAMPCUEIL (Paris)	3 cl. & Ped. / 32 reg.
ORP LE GRAND ( B ) Eglise St Martin et Adèle	2 cl & Péd./25 reg

About forty restorations of 18th and 19th century organs have been carried out by the Thomas firm.

The most recent are:

- St Antoine, Thimister (Clerinx 1858), II/Ped, 17 stops

- St Sébastien, Olne (Comblain 1839), I/Ped, 10 stops

- St Pierre, Villers-le-Temple (Robustelly, 18th century), I/Ped, 10 stops

- St Sébastien, Stavelot (Korfmacher 1841), II/Ped, 26 stops

- Notre Dame du Finistère, Brussels (H. Loret 1848), III/Ped, 29 stops

- St Quentin, Wodecq (H. Loret 1841-42), II/Ped, 19 stops

- 2002: Basilique O.L.V. , Tongres (B) / J-B. Le Picard 1750-53 / IV/Ped. / 49 stops.

- 2002: St. Amanduskerk, SCHENDELBEKE (B) / P.-Ch. II Van Peteghem (1833) / I /Ped, 9 stops.

- 2002: WALHORN: St. Stephanus, Brothers Müller from the middle of the 19th century /II/Ped, 26 stops.

- 2003: AMAY (Collégiale St. Georges -B-): Clérinx (1866) : II. / Ped. / 17 stops.

- 2003: MEERDONK (B) : Vereecken (1863) : 2 cl. / P. / 17 jeux

- 2003: MONACO (Eglise des Carmes) : Cavaillé Coll de ± 1870 : 2 cl. / Péd. accrochée / 10 jeux

- 2000-2005 : Conservatorium te LUIK (B) / Schyven / 3 Man. / P. / 55 Reg (restauratie met de Manufacture d’orgues Luxembourgeoise)

- 2005-06 : Abdij van VLIERBEEK (B) / J-B. Le Picard (1737) / 1 Man., aangehangen P. / 13 Reg.

- 2006: VOSSELAAR (B) O.L.Vrouwkerk / J. Verbuecken (1739) / 1 Man., aangehangen P. / 14 Reg.

- 2007: KURINGEN ( B ) Eglise St Gertrude, composition : 2cl & Péd accr./19 reg.

Currently in order or busy to restore:

	Composition
BIERBEEK (B) Sint-Hilariuskerk (Robustelly - 1774 -)	2 cl. / 22 reg.
O.C.M.W. ANTWERPEN (orgue Bremser de 1675)	2 cl. / 21 reg.
O.C.M.W. ANTWERPEN (orgue Loret)	2 cl. / 8 reg.
FOREST St Denis (orgue Smets du début du 19e S.)	1 cl. / 10 reg.
LIEGE Chapelle St. Roch-en-Volière (Robustelly de 1769)	2 cl. / 15 reg.
SORLE SUR SAMBRE ( B ) Eglise St Médard	2cl & Péd./13 reg.
ELZENVELD KAPEL ANTWERPEN ( BREMSER 1685 )

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