One of the fortunate fallouts of Tony Greer's project (Thanks, Tony,
a great set of disks!) is the motivation for me to hunt up a long-lost
Round Tuit and transfer my Tilden Park tapes to digital media.  These
were made between 1977 and 1980.  There is about five hours of music
from the big box at Tilden Park (Berkeley, Calif.) which, as I
understand it, is a B.A.B. conversion.  This is a large (and loud)
instrument with a single conducting figure, a swell chamber, two roll
drives, snare and bass drum/cymbal and bells (well, some might call
it a xylophone).

The tapes are fairly good considering their age, although there is
a little dropout and the usual hazards of live, on-site recordings.
There are six sessions altogether.  In some the organ is somewhat out
of tune, in another they had the casing off for servicing it.  For
those of you who like to listen to band organs with your head in a
windchest, this fills the bill.  I am sure there is a word to describe
it, but "piercing" is wholly inadequate.  But there are some sessions
with the organ in excellent fettle.

Before releasing the disks, I would like to collect what wisdom there
may be out there about the history and technical detail of this fine
machine.  I know almost nothing.  Any information may be sent direct
to me, unless you feel that it is of sufficient general interest to the
group.  I am also missing about a third of the song titles.  Sometimes
the tune cards were not posted.  My plan is to issue the disks and wait
for the corrections to come rolling in.  I will then distribute new
documentation via e-mail.

Since I have not yet put the line-up onto CD, I do not yet know the
details of total cost, but anticipate running a plan along the lines
of the one Tony used.  There will probably be 3-4 disks.  Let me know,
again off-line, if you may be interested so I have some idea of how
many copies to make.

There is also one bonus disk.  I have about 45 minutes of the Tilden
Park small organ.  This is the one in the center of the carousel.  I
know absolutely nothing about it, but it is a fine example of a small
organ and was in good voice the day I recorded it.  There is some audio
artifact (and noise) as the horses went whizzing by, but ain't that
what life is all about?  (In retrospect I shoulda bought a ticket and
set the recorder up on the throne...)  Again I'd appreciate any
knowledge on this box as well.

A. B. Bonds