Suprisingly, the Wurlitzer 153 organ at Prospect Park wasn't
unlistenable on the dreary rainy and gray day I was there.  I was on
a vacation trip and I just happened to be in the area, so I drove on
over to the park in Brooklyn after Michael McNamara phoned me.  I had
no tools with me but Lucio, the Italian fellow who runs the carousel,
loaned me a screwdriver, a can of oil, some grease and a rag.

What I found wrong with the organ was really nothing that regular
maintenance couldn't help.  All of the vacuum connections were leaky,
including the valve chest.  I tightened all of the screws on the
chests, which were just about finger tight.  After this, there was
plenty of vacuum.

The roll frames needed cleaning and a few minor adjustments on the
transfer mechanism.  The roll transfer was a bit sluggish due to
dirt, and I also cleaned both tracker bars and screens.  Everything
was in very good condition, though, which made it a pleasure to work
on the organ.

The snare and bass drum actions both need attention, and I brought the
snare action back to Baltimore with me to be restored.  The spring on
the bass drum has actually broken at the rivets and is held together
with duct tape.

When I return I'll install the repaired snare drum action, repair and
regulate the bass drum & cymbal action, inspect the pump sticks and
bellows, and tune the organ.  This should get the park by until next
season.

Yesterday I heard from Vincent Morgan, the president of the Lady
Liberty chapter of AMICA.  He said some nice things, and was very glad
I came up to Brooklyn.  Pleasant jobs like this in the New York area
are always welcome!

John D. Rutoskey
Baltimore, MD