Hi all,  I just wanted to send a note to everyone on what's happing
with my band organ restoration.  If you don't know, I am restoring
the 87-key Gavioli fair organ, "The Darling Madam Laura".

This organ is very special to me.  It was owned and restored back
in the mid 1960's by my grandfather, Paul Eakins, and it was named
after my grandmother, Laura Eakins.  It appeared on a large carousel
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from around 1909 to 1955 and was displayed
at his Gay 90's Village Museum in Sikeston, MO, and then moved to
the Gay 90's Melody Museum in St. Louis.  After the St. Louis museum
closed, it was sold to Walt Bellm.  It was severely damaged while at
Bellm's Cars and Music Museum.

After receiving the organ in October of 2004, I have repaired the
woodworm damage.  It was rather severe in places: you could actually
stick your finger through the case in certain areas.  The wood has been
replaced and repainted.  The wind chest is in nice shape except for
some superficial worm damage.  The pump is in great shape and all the
pipe work is in nice shape.  It was in great shape.

I have started to attach the pipe work back now.  I am only missing two
springs and two handles.  I think someone must have snagged them while
at Bellm's in storage.  I am needing replacements for those.  If anyone
knows where I can get new ones, please let me know.

As for the music side of the business, I haven't released anything this
year due to the work on the organ.  However, that is about to change.
I have got a "Katy Lou" CD coming out next month sometime.  "Katy Lou"
is a beautiful Wurlitzer 153 that was sold to Russ Nichols and is now
in Texas.  Also, I have a "Madam Laura" CD coming out in the first
quarter of next year, then followed by a CD of various organs called
"Carousel Beauties", and then followed by a Nickelodeon & Orchestrion
CD entitled "Booze and Broads".

Earlier this year, I took over the selling of Terry Hathaway's compact
discs.  Thanks again to Terry.  I hope he will be enjoying the Hawaiian
beaches very soon.

Check out my web site for pictures of my restoration projects,
information on the CD's and some cool audio interviews that I added
earlier this year.  I have a great sale going on right now too!  Just
to go http://www.bandorganmusic.com/

Thanks
Chris Carlisle
Sikeston, Missouri