I have enjoyed nickelodeons since I first saw them on display in
the historic ghost towns of Virginia City and Nevada City, Montana.
It was also at this time I saw band organs for the first time in the
large log Nevada City Music Hall.  I was 5 at the time.  It was
pouring rain outside during that first visit when I walked into the
big Music Hall and when the happy music played it was as if the sun
came out.  What a thrill!

Over the years my interest has expanded to include calliopes, dance
organs, German orchestrions, photoplayers, music boxes, and fair organs,
etc.  But my enjoyment of American nickelodeons is just as strong as
it ever was!  My collection now includes many American nickelodeons
and orchestrions as well as a fine Wurlitzer CU Duplex Photoplayer.
In fact, this year I acquired several more Seeburg and Link instruments
for my collection.  Simply put, they make great toe tapping happy
music!  These instruments really capture the golden age of the great
American songbook.

Can nickelodeons be popular with today's public?  YES!  Several months
ago a lady posted on the MMD that she wore out the roll on the coin
piano in her ice cream parlor which is the Kellerhaus in Weirs Beach,
New Hampshire.  When I visited the Kellerhaus several years ago I
discovered that the coin piano was surrounded by kids trying to put
a quarter in it.  It played continuously during my visit.  No wonder
the roll wore out!

One of my Link nickelodeon pianos is being worked on in a local machine
shop that is literally a museum filled with antique cars and mechanical
antiques.  The owner of the machine shop asked if the Link could be
played during the local fall festival that took place on a Saturday.
During the event the machine shop was open to the public who wandered
through the town.  I had been used to displaying band organs and crank
organs at rallies but I had never displayed a nickelodeon to the
public.

I said, "Why not give it a try?"  I displayed Link nickelodeon
literature on the piano, opened the front art glass doors for a view of
the internal mechanisms,  put out a tray of new buffalo head nickels,
and sat back to let the Link sell itself to the public.

Well, the Link was an absolute hit and stole the show!  Groups of
curious people of all ages crowded around the instrument and poured
nickels into it.  The visitors were captivated by the Link nickelodeon,
its mechanism, and music.  A number of people returned for a second
look and expressed their thrill with the instrument.  Several children
were so captivated that they had to be literally dragged away by their
parents!  It is indeed gratifying in this day of Microsoft, Intel,
HDTV, etc. that a snappy Link nickelodeon can hold its own and be a hit
with the public!

One often overlooked aspect of American nickelodeons art of their
cabinetry.  Most nickelodeons are showcased in beautiful quarter sawed
oak cabinets and feature elegant art glass that is illuminated from
within while the instrument plays.  When the instruments were new,
companies such as Seeburg, Wurlitzer, Cremona, Coinola, etc.  prided
themselves on the artistry of their case designs.  J. P. Seeburg once
a student at Chicago's famed art institute even patented his cabinet
designs.

If you want to see the artistry of the nickelodeon case designs,
check out the section called Old Catalog Views on my web site:
http://www.timtrager.com  On the web site you can see beautiful catalog
illustrations from my extensive archive including rare and historic
views of the inside the old Seeburg factory.  Take some time to read
the catalog descriptions.

And by the way, if you have one, go over and Put a Nickel in that Ol'
Nickelodeon!  Enjoy!  If you don't have one, then check out the ones
that are available on my web site.

Tim Trager
Tim@timtrager.com
http://www.timtrager.com/