Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2002 > 2002.07.04 > 01Prev  Next


Harvey and Marion Roehl
By Lee Munsick

Thanks so much to D. L. Bullock for alerting us to his page about
Harvey and Marion Roehl.  For those who may not know and be confused
by hearing about them verbally, that last name is pronounced "Rail".
Special thanks for sharing the photographs taken in the addition which
Harvey had built to house his magnificent collection.

It sounds as though my wife Charlotte and I made a similar visitation
to the Roehls some months before you, with the same cordial results.
A delightful tour, which was an eye-opener to my uninitiate wife, and
a memorable and special treat for this lover of mechanical musical
instruments.

At the behest of Ruth Bornand, I joined MBS (later MBSI) in 1949, its
founding year.  I was 13.  I'm not sure, but I think my membership
preceded Harvey's.  From whatever point we were both members, he and
Marion became and remained wonderful, loyal friends.

I learned a lot from him, I hope including some part of how to be a
true gentleman.

In case you missed this in my posting some months back:  At some
meeting or other music show, Harvey set up his rack of records, books,
etc.  I spotted the LP "Nostaglia in HiFi", which is similar to "Paul
at the Calliope".  The old proofreader/editor in me laughed, and
commented to Harvey about "Nostaglia", asking if this was a rare
Italian calliope.  He joined in the laughter, congratulated me, and
said, "You're the only other person beside myself who spotted that or
ever said anything!"

Years later, I owned an antique Ford Model AA truck.  For a time it
did a lot of parades with Yesteryear Museum's WurliTzer Military Band,
until I acquired a 1920 made, 1909 model Autocar truck, which was a
better parade vehicle, and appeared complete with its New Jersey
"antique vehicle" QQ designation, "QQ A 20".  In some parades we
utilized both trucks, with a different mechanical instrument on the
Ford.

I wrote the New Jersey Motor Vehicle office to see if I could get
license plates reading "MODEL A".  I figured I had no chance, assuming
there were dozens of other Model A owners 'way ahead of me.  In that
case, I'd have asked for "MODELAA" (these tags were then limited to
seven digits or spaces).

I was been beaten out on "EDSEL" for my 1958 Edsel Citation, but was
able to get "EDSELS" instead.  I only had one, but several other Edsel
owners had several, and were they jealous!   I offered to trade, but
nobody took me up on it.

To my amazement, my requested "MODEL A" tags were approved!  But when
I received the plates, they read "MODELA", without the space.  At
various parades, people would ask what the truck was.

Recalling our conversation, and honoring my friend Harvey, I would
tell them, "It's a rare Italian antique vehicle" and they bought it!
Not for long...I asked DMV to please correct the plate, which they
did.  I still have both sets of tags among other "courtesy plates",
added to my complete collection of New Jersey vehicle registration
tags from 1908 on .  Perhaps I should have requested "NOSTAGLIA"!

Harvey had a very serious demeanor, which perhaps to many hid a
marvelous although quiet sense of humor.  One would never describe
him as "raucous", although that would have fit several MBS friends I
can recall.

Harvey and Marion Roehl represented the fabled "salt of the earth".
There are no finer.  He was kind enough to introduce me to many
fascinating people.  Ed Link and Q. David Bowers, among others.

I shall forever be proud to have known them and call them friends.
Thanks again for your tribute.

All the best.
Lee Munsick, now resident in Appomattox County, Virginia.

 [ My spell checker tried really hard to 'correct' the
 [ text to read 'nostalgia'.  I hope I didn't change anything
 [ by accident...   --Jody


(Message sent Thu 4 Jul 2002, 14:01:21 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Harvey, Marion, Roehl

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page