Thanks to all who sent replies to my query about the route operator.

On Matthew Caulfield's suggestion I spoke today by telephone with
Tom Wurdeman of Bloomington, Minnesota, who had just returned from
operating one of his calliopes in a parade.  He is now 82 years old
and is still very active.

Tom told me that in the 1920s his grandfather, Ed Wurdeman, and his
father, Ozzie Wurdeman, owned about 300 Mills Violanos that were
placed at locations throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota,
South Dakota and Iowa.  Later a similar number of Western Electric
coin pianos were purchased and put on location.

The machines would pay for themselves in about a year just on the
nickels taken in, Tom said.  He didn't recall what percentage of the
take his grandfather and father kept.

Robbie Rhodes
Etiwanda, Calif.