[ Ref. 110315 MMDigest, History Of My Wurlitzer 125 Band Organ

Hi Everyone,  In reply to Wilbur Herr's inquiry about A.L. Crescio
and Mike Smith, Antonio Leonardo Crescio was a very dear friend of
mine, and also to the Sedlmyer family who owned Royal American Shows.
In the mid-1960s he traveled with Royal American Shows and maintained
the Gavioli organ up until his death.

The Gavioli organ was taken to Logan Showcrafters and was bastardized
to play Wurlitzer 165 rolls up until 1976.  It was retired until it
was donated to Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Now about Mike Smith.  He owned a carousel in Worthing, South Dakota
(which I believe was a Herschell Spillman), and had purchased a North
Tonawanda Musical Instrument Works band organ which played Style 125
music rolls.  (Ah yes -- John and Nan Flint, if you happen to read
this, I did my homework!  I do get around periodically.)

Anyway, A.L. Crescio did do work on the side for people who owned
automatic musical instruments.  When he passed away in 1973, we had
lost a great contributor to restoration.

Gordon Forcier
Clearwater, Minnesota
organgrinder48@aol.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]