Damon Atchison recently asked about an orchestrion builder in Las Vegas.
He was probably looking for Barry Casper, the owner of the Antique
Nickelodeon Company (formerly Ragola) at 1111 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las
Vegas, Nevada 89101, (702) 382-0288 & fax (702) 382-6861.
In addition to offering complete instruments, they have a 9 page catalog and
price list of orchestrion parts. They build custom 3 tier stacks,
measuring 4 1/2" deep & 4 3/4" high at $10 a note. The stacks, violin &
flute pipes, xylophones, bells, untuned percussion & control devices are
made of wood (maple & poplar). They also build MIDI-operated orchestrions
with more percussion than the average high school band.
They apparently keep very busy with orders and have a cutom-made G roll
orchestrion in the Barbary Coast Casino (probably the greatest value for
a quarter anywhere in Las Vegas) & have had others elsewhere in town.
I got a xylophone kit from them 20 years ago that still plays well, but
they now call it a "vacuum hog" and have produced a new design that is
more economical. I'll be out there again at the end of the month if you
need any "second opinions."
Stan Rhine, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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