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The "Winston Band Organ"
By Bill Finch

Here's the story of the "Winston" band organ as best I remember.
The organ was made by Gavioli prior to WW1.  At some point (I believe
after WW2) it was acquired by a German family named Robrahn.  They
commissioned Carl Frei & Son of Waldkirch, Germany, to restore the
instrument.  The instrument was subsequently exhibited at fairs and
other public events by the Robrahns.

In the early 1970s, sometime between 1970 and 1974, the organ was being
exhibited in Breman, Germany.  An advertising firm purchased the organ
for the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company from the Robrahns and exported
it to the USA.  R. J. Reynolds used the organ for publicity for a short
time, circus wagon and all.

Reithoffer Shows (a carney since 1896) purchased the band organ from
R. J. Reynolds in the early 1970s (1973 or 1974).  Pat Reithoffer,
Jr. (3rd generation) had been running the organization since 1945.
He remembered their old band organ which burned in a storage fire in
1943.  When he heard and saw the Gavioli he did what he had to to talk
Reynolds out of the organ.  After an exchange of an unknown sum, the
organ traveled with the northeastern unit of the Reithoffer carnival.

The last time I saw the organ was in about 1978, at the Dutchess County
(New York) Fair.  I suspect that the Reithoffer family still owns the
organ but one must contact them to confirm ownership.  The Reithoffer
web site has a small picture of the organ at:

  http://www.reithoffershows.com/history.htm 

Now you know everything that I know.

Bill Finch

 [ Rudolf Robrahn started his showman firm circa 1935 and his
 [ family continues today in Breman; visit http://www.robrahn.de/ 
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Mon 5 Sep 2005, 21:49:42 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Band, Organ, Winston

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