[ Ref. 080512 MMDigest, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Wurlitzer 165

I think that it is most regrettable that any band organ be kept behind
a glass enclosure thus creating a barrier between the listener and the
organ.  I can understand that the volume produced by band organs can be
quite loud particularly for the workers and operators of carousels.

I myself work on a carousel in Burnaby, British Columbia.  We have
a Wurlitzer 146b off to the side, but within touching distance of the
public.  Before the organ was purchased, there was much concern over
the volume of "noise" that would be created from the organ but this
concern was lifted when it was decided that placing thick Plexiglas
over the facade of the organ would greatly lower the volume.  In order
to keep the sound relatively authentic, the Plexiglas had small
openings.

Another option that we use to preserve our hearing is to give out ear
plugs to the operators.  This seems to work well.  We also turn off the
organ between rides.

I visited the Santa Cruz Carousel some twenty years ago and heard the
165 Ruth playing within an adjacent room that was completely enclosed.
The microphones used really distorted the sound of the organ.  By doing
so, this gives out a negative opinion of mechanical instruments and
band organs in particular.

While it is true that indoor carousels such as the one I work on make
for louder band organs, why would a carousel such as the one on the
boardwalk at Santa Cruz need to be enclosed?

George Karpel, carousel operator
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada