Hello all,  I realize that on April 1st, 2007, there is another organ
rally coming up in Coney Island, New York, so here is a fundraising
idea: have a donation bin for passersby to contribute money at the
rally, and have AMICA/MBSI/COAA members volunteer their talents to
restore and maintain (and get musical arrangements for) the many fine
organs left on New York City area carousels.

I have ridden on many of the antique wooden carousels that are still in
operation in the United States.  I would guess that maybe less than half
of them have band organs, and of those, only a few seem operational.
Since band organs are a visible (and loud) sign of our hobby, I think it
would be good if either AMICA or MBSI or COAA could get at least a few
significant ones in good shape; I'm sure some fine-sounding instruments
might make the general public re-evaluate their opinions of these
instruments.

It's one thing with a band organ rally, where owners bring their
own carefully cared-for organs to a fixed location for a day or two.
Although some of these have attracted goodly numbers of people, I still
have a feeling that more people have ridden a carousel that has an
organ (operational or not) today than have gone to a band organ rally.

Believe me, I am not putting down rallies -- I think they are great.
However, I think that a fine-sounding concert-quality instrument in the
right location would not only be a joy to behold, but would cause some
people to be interested who would have ignored the silent (or
poor-sounding) instrument before.

I have not included any American-made organs on this list, not just
because there are so many to list, but because they are generally
smaller and less capable as compared to the average European organ.
(Not that I'm putting down American instruments, there are just
very few large concert-quality ones, such as a Wurlitzer 165, North
Tonawanda 1100, or Artizan D, still on carousels.)  And though we
enthusiasts may enjoy the music, I'm not sure the average carousel
operator or rider would agree, having to put up with, say, an
instrument on the Wurlitzer 150 scale (with the music always in the
same key or couple of keys, lots of missing accidentals in the scale,
et cetera).


Organs most in need of help:

 1. Gebrüder Bruder Elite Orchestra "Apollo", 80-keyless (Corona Park,
Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York).  This organ is at the top of my
list, not only because it is one of largest organs left on a public
carousel in the United States, but because it is in such bad shape and
deserves the most work done to it right away.

The last I heard, it currently does not play, and judging from an LP
I have of the organ, recorded during the time of the World's Fair
(1960's), it didn't sound very good or powerful when it did, after the
roll conversion.  B.A.B. sure messed up this organ when they converted
it (either that or it was in really poor shape during the recording
session); and though the conversion may have saved it from being junked
(?), I think it is high time that this organ is completely restored
back to it's original scale and book music, top to bottom, all pipes,
pumps, etc.

In addition to a new keyless frame, a non-obtrusive MIDI system can be
added inside the organ, which can store thousands of songs and free up
the carousel operators to run the ride and not worry about the organ
(except turning it on and off).  Of course, the organ should have a few
recut and new books with it, just to keep the keyframe "exercised";
but I think MIDI control on a working organ like this will keep it in
better shape over a long period of time, since I have heard stories
about careless or ignorant operators ruining book music!  It would also
be great to have a variety of arrangements, new and old, everything
from classical to rock music, and of course conversions from other
scales and also new arrangements done in the manner of Gebr. Bruder.
Photos of the organ: http://64nywf65.20m.com/organ.htm

I understand there are just six Gebrüder Bruder organs of the "Elite
Apollo" series left today: two 65-keyless, one 69-keyless and three
80-keyless.  Of these, It appears from photographs that the Flushing
Meadows Bruder is the largest of the three 80-keyless organs, although
I think I would rather hear from a real organ expert about this.


2. Ruth model 38 (Crescent Park Carousel, Providence, Rhode Island).
This organ is number 2, not only because of it's size, but also because
it is currently a travesty of itself.  Whatever idiots converted it to
use Wurlitzer 165 rolls (perhaps the Wurlitzer factory?) neglected to
set up any of the existing automatic registers to operate from the roll
(either that; or they have long since stopped working).

The result is the organ plays _full blast_ all the time, high-pitched
mixtures and all!  It's one thing to hear all of the wonderfully-voiced
pipework of a Ruth organ in turn as called for by the music in
appropriate places; it's quite another to have it blasting away all
the time!

I heard a rumor that the carousel people were going to enclose the front
of the organ with Plexiglas, to cut down on the noise level.  I hope
this is just an unfounded rumor, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was
true, since when I visited the carousel over 10 years ago, the operator
insisted the organ was a "Wurlitzer", despite me telling him it was a
Ruth, but we both had to yell at the top of our lungs to make ourselves
heard over the organ!  A sound clip of this organ as it sounds now,
playing the 165 rolls, is here: http://www.wurlitzer-rolls.com/6523A-2.mp3

Ruth organs are fine organs, and this organ is in dire need of help;
not only if it's reputation is to be kept, but to insure the hearing
and musical appreciation of the riders (and operators)!  Forget the
Wurlitzer 165 rolls, they do not do the organ's large scale justice.
Strip all that off and have the organ returned to it's original music
system.  Ruth 38ers can be well-respected concert organs, and if this
one is brought back to it's former glory, it might again have the chance
to offer the one in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, some stiff competition,
musically!  (The latter organ and the carousel, both of the former
Pavilion Amusement park, are still owned by Myrtle Beach and will be
relocated to a new location in the city).


3. Gavioli (65-key?) at Playland, Rye, New York.  According to
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/200005/2000.05.27.06.html
the organ currently on this carousel was built by Gavin McDonough,
organ maintenance man, using pipes from other organs (including church
organs) and uses the facade of the previous Gavioli organ.  The facade
itself is very nice and almost Asian in design and conception, though
for some reason one of the drum wings has an Italian place name painted
on it, leading at least one person writing an article about the carousel
to erroneously assume the organ was made in Italy!  (Of course, the
Gavioli company had long since left Italy for France by the time they
introduced book organs).

Nowhere can I find written exactly what key size this Gavioli organ
was originally.  I would guess from the size of the facade that it was
between a 57- and 89-key originally; probably a 65-key, which would
also be very adaptable to the Wurlitzer 165 scale (the Gavioli scale
has 6 bass, 10 accomp., 17 countermelody and 21 melody).

As to the McDonough special organ currently behind the facade, I think
it has a nice bright sound, not quite like any other organ I have
heard, and as far as sound goes, it would suit another large-size
carousel well.  You can hear this organ and even catch a glimpse of it
on a Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=131dHWvFgxg


However, as far as originality goes, they really should have the
original Gavioli organ restored back to its original scale and put back
on the carousel behind the facade.  Or, at least they should give the
Gavioli facade to whoever owns the organ now and have a new one made
for the "new" McDonough organ (which is incomprehensibly called a
"Welte" organ in the NCA census).

Since I understand that a keyed keyframe is a bit harder on the music
(and more susceptible to damage by a clumsy operator), it would make
sense for the restored Gavioli organ to have an integrated MIDI system,
which can be relatively unobtrusive and just tee into the tubing from
the touchboxes.  A new, separate pallet box worked by magnets and
mounted in the back of the organ can play it via MIDI, and a new
pouchboard can switch the tubing from the MIDI touchbox to the keyframe
for book operation.

In my personal opinion, this might be preferable to a MIDI controlled
device mounted upon the book-reader keyframe which apparently requires
some powerful magnets, springs, and careful balancing to the spring
tension to make it all work.  (This is different from the MIDI device
for keyless instruments, which just has to uncover holes.)

Of course I'm just pulling ideas out of my hat; I figure if the
original Gavioli was modified quite a bit already to play Wurlitzer
rolls, then taking it back to it's original scale with the MIDI
addition might be considered an improvement (and will definitely be
liked by the operator, who won't have to worry about feeding a book
into the reader every few minutes).  A nice photo show with pictures
of the carousel and organ is here:
http://www.nca-usa.org/psp/RyePlaylandCarmel/


4. Gebrüder Bruder, model 107 or 100, at Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco, California.  This organ is at #4 not because of it's size or
musical ability relative to other high-ranked organs on this list, but
because it is the butt of a rather stupid decision on the part of the
City of San Francisco. There was a thread about the carousel and organ
on MMD a while back, indexed here:
(http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/KWIC/G/gate.html).

And the "unfortunate decision"?  Well, rather than take up space by
restating it here, I will give the link to the post about it:
(http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/200410/2004.10.14.01.html).

All I have to say is that I am appalled by this decision, and am not
sure who is the bigger idiot: the city official who thought they knew
band organs better than an experienced restorer ("different looking"
organ indeed!; the _original_ organ for this carousel is "different
looking"!), or the  MIDI "expert" who thought they knew something about
European organs!  And to think that the 107 formerly in Seaport Village
was playing quite successfully off of MIDI for years!

I'd like to give both of these people a piece of my mind. However,
I feel sorry for Mr. Alan Erb; he should not be denounced as he tried
his best to keep the organ original.  However, it is hard for one lone
restorer to make themselves heard or taken seriously by city officials.
However, if five or six people raise hell, then things will get done!

If you don't like what is being done to a public organ, do something
about it; if you obviously know more than the city, and can volunteer
_your own_ skills and money to back up your words, they should be
only too happy to do what is musically best for the instrument (and
what sounds nice to collectors often sounds nice to the public, too)!
Mr. Erb, on the other hand, could only work with what they were paying
him for the job.

The point: city officials (of any city) have enough hard work to do
every day without having to worry about things like band organs; if
true respected and accredited enthusiasts volunteer their own money and
skills to work on these city-owned instruments, I'm sure the officials
would be much more open to having all the right things done to keep
them sounding good; rather than "budget conscious" organ decisions if
city money is involved.

Anyway, this organ should be taken back to book music with an
additional MIDI system, and have a stack of recut books.  For Pete's
sake, this scale is one of the most popular German organ scales ever!
There should be a "ton" of preexisting arrangements for it; the only
question is getting them "across the pond".  Well, scan the books into
MIDI and buy/sell the files, or have someone in the States recut new
books from quality card stock!  Heck, perhaps even the original North
Tonawanda 188 can be restored and put back alongside the Bruder, for
even more musical variety.  Go nuts!


5. Gavioli(?) 48-key(?) at Paramount's Kings Dominion, Doswell,
Virginia.  This organ is not currently playing at all, and since at
one time the NCA census called it an  "Artizan", this would lead me
to believe it has been converted to play Artizan rolls.  I do not even
know what key size it was originally, though it can't be bigger than
a 48- or 57-key.  William Griswold, Jr., asked about it on the MMD in
2003, but apparently never got any response.  He did provide a photo,
though: http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/griswold1.html  Again, as with
#4, Gavioli organs are high-quality instruments and deserve the finest
restoration jobs; the ones in public locations should be treasured and
played and not left to rot.  I think I've said enough about this one.


6. Ruth model 36 at Riverfront Park, Spokane, Washington.  The friends
of the carousel have done a commendable job of getting this organ
restored, although the conversion with duplex B.A.B. roll frames has
been kept.  Apparently, due to the deteriorating quality of their
B.A.B. rolls and lack of recuts, the organ has gone unplayed except for
special occasions. It would be great to take it back to the original
Ruth 78-keyless book scale -- one of the most popular European organ
scales of all time; hundreds, if not thousands of arrangements
available) -- with an added MIDI system.  Of course, the B.A.B. rolls
could be scanned in and converted to the Ruth scale so they could still
be heard on the organ.  This would be a great project, and I'm sure the
carousel people would love to go through with it, as soon as enough
funds are available.


7. Ruth model 37 at Tilden Park, Berkeley, California.  This organ
has had a lot of discussion about it in the MMD culminating in the
relatively recent page of a few pictures:
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/tildenPark.html

I have never actually seen a Ruth organ with swell shutters although
I understand they did make a couple organs with them.  However, the
shutters on this organ do not look original to me.  Also, I can't
figure out why there is no name anywhere on the facade!  Is this an
original facade?  It is nice looking, but still...  Anyway, regarding
the musical aspect of the organ, if what Mr. Yost speculated is true
(http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/199611/1996.11.14.04.html)
and the original keyless frame is still with the organ, then it should
be a fairly simple matter for an experienced restorer to take this
organ back to its original scale and music format.

I know I have been really keen on MIDI with regards to organs on
public carousels, but if these carousel operators have been happy to
frequently change the paper B.A.B. rolls, then perhaps they will also be
happy to put books on the organ, every now and then, and a MIDI
addition might not be necessary.  This organ is at #4 primarily because
of it's size, and not so much because it is in desperate need of help.
Indeed, from what I have read it is kept in pretty good shape, even
despite it's current converted state.


8. Ruth model 33 at Forest Park, Queens, New York.  This is an unusual
case design of the 33er where the drums are mounted on the sides.
When I saw this organ in person over a decade ago, I had thought it
was a converted barrel organ or something, because the side-mounted
drums looked so unusual and bogus.  However, now I have the book by
Herbert Juettmann, "Waldkirch Street and Fairground Organs" (English
translation), and lo and behold, there is a line drawing of this same
exact case design in the Ruth section!  Apparently it was a factory
option.

Although the carousel itself (an extremely rare and beautiful Mueller)
has been "restored" a couple of times; I'm not sure if anything has
been done to the organ.  I only heard it play once and would not be
surprised if it is unplayable now.  It is currently set up for Wurlitzer
150 rolls and is quite a small organ; I would not be surprised if it
is pitched a couple whole tones higher than the one at Central Park.
However, small size does not always equate with poor musical ability;
and I think if this was back to the 33er scale with more accidentals
and bass notes, it would be able to play music more correctly again.
Having this organ playing would be a welcome alternative to what I last
heard as the music on the carousel: canned country and kiddy music!


9. Gavioli (?-key) at Rocky Springs Carousel Association, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania.  This organ has a Wurlitzer 157-type facade, which
may have been added by Wurlitzer when they converted it to 165 rolls.
The only other Gavioli organ I know about that had a facade like this
(which was also a Wurlitzer 165-roll conversion) was destroyed by fire
along with its carousel: PTC #38 at Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
(Dorney park now has a Dentzel formerly from Cedar Point, complete with
a Wurlitzer 153 organ).

I have no idea what key size this organ originally was, since in the
one or two photos I've seen (in which you can barely see the organ),
the facade covers up the pipework.  However, I would speculate it was
a 65- or maybe 87-key organ.  If it was the latter, then a lot of pipes
are going unused.  Regardless, the carousel (formerly at Dollywood) is
now one of only two or three carousels I know of in the U.S. with a
Gavioli organ.  Gavioli made very fine organs, and someone should chip
in and help the carousel association take this organ back to its former
glory.  See http://www.rockyspringscarousel.com/


10. Ruth model 33 at Central Park, New York City, New York.  This is
perhaps the most visible, heard and seen of all carousel organs in the
USA.  Many, many thousands of people come through New York City and
ride this carousel every year.  The organ is still playing continuously,
to the best of my knowledge, and is one of the very few band organs
left in the US still playing on a carousel.  I was weaned on the sound
of this organ, and admit a special fondness for its music, even the
Wurlitzer 150 rolls I sometimes love to hate so much. (except roll #13400,
Jonathan Jensen's 1976 opus of absolutely brilliant arrangements, which
must be worn out now from all the play it gets on that organ).  I'm sure
countless other kids may feel the same way, even if they do not know it.

However, all is not lost; if restored to playing book music the organ
can have a non-invasive MIDI system installed (or even a MIDI
"Vorsetzer"), and 52-keyless MIDI files made from scanning and
converting the Wurlitzer 150 rolls currently with the organ.  The organ
should still be able to play style 150 roll arrangements fine on it's
original scale; unless of course pipes were retuned or replaced during
the conversion.  With the model 33er being the most popular Ruth book
organ ever made, and tons and tons of arrangements already available
for its scale, finding music to add to the converted Wurlitzer
arrangements should be no problem at all, provided that the price is
right and the city doesn't have to be bothered too much.


11. Wilhelm Bruder Söhne model 79 at Knoebels Groves, Elysburg,
Pennsylvania.  This little organ had a web site all it's own until
recently, linked from an MMD post at
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/200407/2004.07.20.01.html

The organ was used for a long time on the carousel on the boardwalk in
Wildwood, New Jersey (PTC #41).  However, when the carousel was broken
up at auction, the organ was sold, and currently resides at Knoebels
Groves, in the center of the "grand carousel".  It has one of the few
duplex Wurlitzer 125-roll setups ever created on it.  It would be nice
to see this organ also taken back to books, but really since the whole
park in general is so nice to organs and keeps them in fine shape,
it is not a huge priority compared with the other organs listed here.
As a matter of fact, Knoebels also has a Gebrüder Bruder 107 still
playing books.


Organs less in need of help:


- Ruth model 33 at Lake Winnepesaukah, Rossville, Georgia.  Although the
Carousel Association of America has had an annual rally here, I do not
know the current status of this organ.  In 2001, when the writer at
this web site http://history.amusement-parks.com/lakewinniecarousel.htm
visited, the organ was silent. I do not even know if it still plays
books or what.  Hopefully what with the recent organ rally activity,
COAA members have been working on this organ (or at least convincing
park personnel to keep it in order), but I do not know for sure what is
up with it.  It would be nice to know whether it is now in nice shape
and plays well.

- Ruth model 37 at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California.
There has been some mention very recently of this organ and also
a Wurlitzer 165 which was recently purchased some of the people in
charge of the boardwalk, presumably to complement the Ruth.  I have
also heard that both organs are being worked on by Stinson Organ Co.
and hope this is true; if so, this will mean that both organs will be
rebuilt/tuned up in fine style; and especially that the Ruth may
finally be returned to it's original large scale, if it hasn't been
already.  In the 1990's MIDI control was added, but I wasn't sure if
this was just utilizing the preexisting 165-roll conversion or not.

Listening to the organ on a video of the carousel didn't help much
either: the arrangement was quite obviously a 165 arrangement, but it
was difficult to tell if it had been adapted for the 37er scale or
if the organ was just still in its converted state.  I hope with the
recent restoration work, the organ will finally be returned to its
original potent capability.  Interestingly, I cannot find a good photo
of this organ anywhere; the only photo I ever saw of it was a closeup
of the orchestra bells and that has since been taken off the Internet.

- Gebrüder Bruder Elite Orchestra "Apollo", 65-keyless, at B & B
Carousell, Coney Island, New York.  As announced a while back in the
MMD, this carousel and organ have been purchased by the city of New
York in a wonderful move to preserve the last remaining wooden carousel
on Coney Island.  At last report, both the carousel and organ are slated
to be restored, but I'm not sure if this restoration includes taking the
organ back to it's original scale.  I sure hope so.  I know B.A.B. music
roll fans will hiss and gnash their teeth at this, but hey, if you like
that music so much, why not build a new organ using your favorite B.A.B.
scale?

Also, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to convert the roll
arrangements into book arrangements for the scale; that way, riders can
enjoy the same tunes and arrangements they did before; as well as having
the (slightly) increased capability of the original organ scale.  Of
course, scanning the rolls and converting them to MIDI files for use on
the organ would work too, but I think I've mentioned MIDI enough here.
See http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/200508/2005.08.10.03.html

- Wilhelm Bruder Söhne model 79(?) at Carousel Park, Hampton, Virginia.
This organ is last because it's visible in a couple of recent photos of
the carousel; it appears beautifully restored and quite playable from
the front, but I'm not sure whether that's true.  I'm not even sure if
it's still playing books, though I have read nothing so far to suggest
it has been otherwise converted.  It would just be nice to know that
this organ is in nice operating condition and playing books.


Sorry for the very long and detailed post; I thought it was high time
to list every European organ I could think of still on a carousel in
USA, and the condition, current music format, etc.  Of course, excepting
the top two or three organs, this call to action doesn't have to take
place immediately, but it would be nice if gradually, these organs are
taken back to their original music format, so they can once again
serenade riders, operators, and organ buffs alike with "the happiest
music on earth".

I have a proposition to make; although it has taken me ages to write
this thing (I'm rather behind schedule submitting it, sorry), hopefully
the New York AMICA chapter can consider this if they read it in time:

At the upcoming April 1st Coney Island band organ rally (and no, that's
no joke!), how about having a table and volunteer and a sturdy little
box set up with a photo of the Flushing Meadows Gebrüder Bruder organ
on it, with a little paragraph about what a sorry state the organ is
in, and how it would be nice to have it restored to its former glory.

The box, of course, will have a slot in the top, since it is for taking
donations from the general public. I think this, combined with the
supportive and musical atmosphere of the organ rally, will help get at
least a little money from the general public, and hopefully some AMICA
members can chip in a bit too.

It would also be great if there could be a little stereo/boom box
playing a recording of a restored 80-keyless Gebrüder Bruder Elite
Orchestra Apollo (to give people an idea of what it would sound like
when restored), but since I have taken so long in writing this, and
I am not aware of any currently existing recordings of such a restored
organ, I think this is maybe too much to ask for.

Anyway, anyone wishing to reply directly, please use my alternate
email: <rag1916@yahoo.com.geentroep> (drop the ".geentroep" to reply,
since it's a spam blocker) since our normal email is not working right
now.

Sincerely,
Andrew Barrett