> Speaking of proper restoration techniques, I wonder how far one
> should go in restoring fairground organ facades?  For instance,
> my Gasparini facade is quite warped.  I removed the carvings
> (those that hadn't already fallen off!) and stripped them of a
> dozen coats of paint.  I toyed with straightening the warpage,
> but I believe it's too deformed, so I wonder now if I should
> replace it with a plywood base or use glued-up solid lumber as
> was the original.  To this, I'd glue the original carvings.
> Any thoughts?
>
> Philip Jamison
> West Chester, Pennsylvania

I recommend reading

     "The Carousel News & Trader", published at
     87 Park Avenue West, Suite 206
     Mansfield, OH 44902

     tel 419-529-4999.

This monthly magazine often has feature articles about the restoration
of carousel horses, et cetera.  Articles in the June, 1996, issue
describe the restoration of a lightweight horse from a Country Fair
(portable) carousel, and also the huge restoration project for Jasper
Sanfilippo's "Eden Palais Salon" carousel.  Quoting from this article
(page 24):

> Since some of the original wood and tin making up the framework
> of the facade is beyond restoration, the restorers elected to
> preserve as much of the intricate carvings as possible, using
> new, laminated wood to serve as the backing.  Theorizing that
> the wooden backing is like the canvas of a masterpiece
> painting, the Carousel Works [the restoration contractor] is
> repairing and recreating the carved, intricate scrollwork,
> placing it onto a fresh "canvas" when necessary.  After all, it
> is not the canvas that makes a masterpiece, but the artist's
> paints and how they are rendered -- the same logic applies to
> the facade's wood carvings.

Not a bad theory. But you should also read the article on page 20,
"Deliberations of a New Collector", which describes the work of a
different craftsman, Roger Melton, who advocates using only genuine
wood in a restoration, and decries incompatible substances such as auto
body fillers, polyester fillers, and other like products designed for
metals.  I had a long visit with Melton at his shop, and I was quite
impressed with the logic underlying his restoration methods and
materials.  You could phone him and discuss your problem; he's quite
generous about sharing his knowledge:

   Melton's Carousel World
   425 Pollasky
   Clovis, CA 93612

   tel 209-298-8930

-- Robbie Rhodes <rrhodes@foxtail.com>