Alan Erb wrote:

> I have heard from a number of young people who operate carousels,
> who are of the opinion that the "real" organ is "too loud", and
> (unfortunately), they prefer to play tapes or even the radio.

Preference for playing tapes doesn't happen just in this country.
When I was in Paris in October, I encountered a couple of men playing
what appeared to be street organs.  When I asked them for more
information about these organs, both replied that they were playing
cassettes.  These were just decorative wood boxes with no pipes or
barrels inside.  When they turned the crank, a cassette of street
organ music played.

I could not determine a known manufacturer for these "organs."  I
wonder if they had once been true street organs that had their insides
gutted, or if they have always been this way.  Photos can be seen at

   http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/grinders.jpg

Joyce Brite
Player Piano and Mechanical Music Exchange
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Exchange/