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Wurlitzer Organs in Cuba
By Ken Vinen

Re "Band Organ Diaspora," Digest 970129:  The answer to your Danzon
music quandary could lie in knowing just how big the market was for organ
rolls in Cuba.  I can only think of one person who has factual inform-
ation on this, and that person is "Uncle" Don Rand, aka W. C. Fields, in
Thomaston, Maine.

About three years back I was planning a month-long visit to Cuba.
During one of those legendary phone calls to Don he told me he had all
the shipping records that would show how many band organs, style numbers,
dates and the rest, that were in fact sold and shipped into Cuba.  We
both thought it would be great fun to try and track down one or more
of these instruments.

In any event, as you may well suspect, I went to Cuba and the list did
not.  I never did follow-up on this project because I have not planned
a return trip.  Perhaps you might want to take this lead and see where
it goes.

Ken Vinen

 [ Irving Berlin wrote: "I'll see you, in C-U- B-A !"  Is anyone planning
 [ a cigar expedition?  I wish Don Rand would join us here, because I
 [ can't afford those legendary phone calls!  -- Robbie



(Message sent Thu, 30 Jan 97 15:21:56 PST , from time zone -0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Cuba, Organs, Wurlitzer