The Wurlitzer Style 165 music roll scale has a control hole for swell
shutters.  Swell shutters by their very nature control volume.  I have
yet to see a Stinson organ that has swell shutters.  The original
Wurlitzer 165 band organs had swell shutters for expression.  Yes, it
does cover the pipework, but an attractive facade makes up for this.

Note that the Wurlitzer Styles 157 and 165 do not show pipe work; both
of these organ have swell shutters, both of these organs were intended
for indoor carousel use.  On the other hand, the Wurlitzer Style 164
and others were designed for skating rink use, which requires a more
powerful sound.  On these organs, the powerful pipework is exposed,
particularly the brass pipes.

I have _never, in all my years of listening to band organs, heard an
original Wurlitzer 157 or 165 that is objectionable in its original
carousel setting.  The original 165 with its deeply pitched pipes is
exceedingly enjoyable to listen to.  Just visit the Glen Echo carousel
and you will know what I mean.

Maybe the Ontario Beach Park organ should be fitted with swell
shutters.  The shutter opening can be adjusted to acoustics of the
room.  Also, maybe the organ should be fitted with wood clarinets in
the countermelody -- another register in the 165 roll.  The 165 rolls
arrangements regularly call for use of these clarinets which are more
mellow in tone.  I have yet to see a Stinson organ with the clarinets
that are found in the original Wurlitzer 165 and 157.

When you build a new organ it is important to study _why_ the original
company did certain things.  Also note that the arranger of the music
may have arranged the music to use these registers.

As a side note,  it is interesting to me to see how many contemporary
organ builders disregard such things.  But then I guess we are all at
times guilty of using white glue instead of hot glue, and Perflex
pouches instead of tan leather pouches.  In the end we realize that
the old-timers knew what they were doing.

And now to the hiring practices of the park department that runs the
Ontario Beach Park carousel.  Part of the job description for employment
in the carousel building should be tolerance of the band organ.  If
they don't like the band organ music, *they should not work there!*

Tim Trager