Julie Porter said "... I decided to see if I can make a simple busker
organ in a week's time frame...  Details of this project are being
posted to the blog at my web site..."

Sounds like a great challenge, Julie.

"Of course it would be better if I could quickly acquire or borrow some
rolls and spools for the events this weekend."

If you can't get spools from someone local, you might consider my
El-Cheapo spool design which is on Mel Wright's John Smith pages.

  http://www.melright.com/busker/jsart62.htm 

The original spools used hex sockets, but I quickly changed to a drive
spindle which has a reduced nipple which fits inside the center tube
and a cross pin.  The spools themselves now require only a cross slot
instead of the hot-formed hex socket.  I'll try to post a picture of
the spindle on my personal web site later this week.

Wallace Venable