The Compton Miniatura was first introduced in 1931, with an illustrated advertisement appearing in the March edition of Musical Opinion:

We have received so many enquiries for an inexpensive but thoroughly effective small organ, that we have designed the Compton Miniatura. The Miniatura is designed on the extension principle, and possesses a complete tonal scheme and perfect electric action. The Miniatura is self-contained, with a silent blower which can be connected to a lighting or heating point. Its [approximate] dimensions are: Height 8ft 4ins., Width 7ft 6ins., Depth 5ft 6ins., including detachable pedalboard. It costs £575 delivered and erected within 100 miles of London. Demonstrations at our works by appointment.

There were two models, of two and three ranks respectively. Illustrated on the right is a Miniatura II – a two-rank scheme consisting of Open Diapason and Röhr Gedeckt, and intended to effectively lead congregational singing of 150 voices:

PEDAL ORGAN
Bourdon 16
Flute 8

GREAT ORGAN
Bourdon 16
Open Diapason 8
Rohr Gedeckt 8
Principal 4
Fifteenth 2

SWELL ORGAN
Open Diapason 8
Rohr Gedeckt 8
Flute 4
Piccolo 2

COUPLERS & ACCESSORIES
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Balanced swell pedal

Height 10ft, Width 7ft 1in, Depth 6ft (including pedalboard)

More elaborate was the Miniatura III – a three-rank scheme consisting of Diapason, Gemshorn and Hohlflöte. The accompanying illustration shows the disposition of the pipework on the main chest, with the two Polyphones beneath:

PEDAL ORGAN
Subbass 16
Flute 8

GREAT ORGAN
Tenoroon 16
Diapason 8
Gemshorn 8
Hohlflöte 8
Octave 4
Gemshorn 4
Octave Quint 2-2/3
Superoctave 2

SWELL ORGAN
Contra Flute 16
Diapason 8
Gemshorn 8
Hohlflöte 8
Gemshorn 4
Flute 4
Nazard 2-2/3
Flautino 2
Tremulant

COUPLERS & ACCESSORIES
Great to Pedal
Swell to Pedal
Balanced swell pedal
Balanced crescendo pedal acting on Great and Pedal stops
Three pistons to Great
Three pistons to Swell
Two pistons to Pedal couplers

Height 10ft, Width 9ft 2in, Depth 6ft (including pedalboard)

Two revised models – Miniatura A and Miniatura B – were released in 1935. The Model A was a more compact version of the original Miniatura II, with an identical specification. The Model B was a more quietly-voiced alternative scheme, more suitable for practice rooms and residences:

PEDAL ORGAN
Bourdon 16
Flute 8
Flute 4
Great to Pedal
Solo to Pedal

GREAT ORGAN
Salicional 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Salicet 4
Twelfth 2-2/3
Fifteenth 2

SOLO ORGAN
Bourdon 16
Salicional 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Salicet 4
Flute 4
Nazard (Middle C) 2-2/3
Flautino 2

Balanced swell pedal

The accompanying picture illustrates a post-war styling of a Miniatura A

Mention must also be made of the Compton Cecilian model, introduced in the mid-1950s. Probably only six of these were produced, and the model was ideally suited for use as a temporary organ – as evidenced in the accompanying picture of Gordon Reynolds at St Bride’s, Fleet Street, during the installation of the new pipe organ. The Cecilian was a single-manual Positive Organ of 49-notes, with automatic pedal bass in the lowest octave-and-a-half:

Pedal-bass 16
Salicional 8
Stopped Flute 8
Salicet 4
Flute 4
Nazard 2-2/3
Fifteenth 2
Piccolo 2

The physical dimensions were very compact, being just 7ft 3in high and 5ft in width. The depth, with the retractable keyboard stowed, was just 2ft 3in. The overall weight was no more than 4cwt, and the organ was readily movable on its own castored platform

By July 1959, the same model was being marketed as the Compton Cameo