Well, last week Ellen came out and now Sadie Mae has come out.  Yes, in
fact Sadie Mae is, with different drum placement, a deKleist 28A band
organ.  This was deKleist's featured organ of his 1901 catalog and is
pictured in the infamous photo appearing in Fred Frieds book on
carousels.  In that photo are several important people of the time
including Allan Herschell and Eugene deKleist (with bow tie).  When was
that photo taken???  Why were these men standing in front of the 28A
having their photo taken???

Was this somewhat of an important time---such as the first 28A for
sale???  How about the first 28A imported from France???

Talking of France, was this imported organ a Gavioli, or better yet, a
Limonaire.  I understand the violins and other pipes are not typical
Gavioli.  deKleist worked as a Limonaire salesman before immigrating to
the states and he did sell other Limonaire organs as deKleist prior to
1901.

Anyway what is important is the organ that was salvaged from the bowels
of Disney is one of the first of the large organs represented as U.S.
manufacture in this country.

And thanks to you, Bob Moore, this important discovery will help us
understand, a little more, the early beginnings of the American band
organ industry.

Ron Bopp