The following was received by me.  Please respond directly to Ruth.
Her message appears first and then my response to it.  SKG

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 Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 20:24:10 EDT
 Subject: PTC 54

Stephen,  In 1921 the Union Street Railway of New Bedford, MA,
purchased PTC 54 carousel from the Philadelphia Toboggan Co.  They
placed it in their park: Lincoln Park in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

My question is: can you tell us what music and info re: the mfr. of the
music came with the carousel.  We are publishing a book on the history
of the park due out Sept. 25.  The carousel is now in Fall River
Heritage Park in Fall River, MA, and I was told that the music is now
"canned."

Please email me at: EvRuCas@aol.com

Thank you,

Ruth J. Caswell, Managing Editor
Spinner Publications, Inc.
New Bedford, MA

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Hi Ruth,  Music for carousels was and is provided by mechanical music
machines known as "Military Band Organs", presumably constructed to
imitate wind or concert bands that were first used to provide
background music as patrons enjoyed the ride.

These were at first operated by a large pinned wooden barrel, many
times larger than a music box cylinder, which tripped levers that
blew the pipes and played the drums.  Later instruments used punched
paper rolls, similar to the player piano.

Chances are your PTC carousel used a Wurlitzer Style 153 or larger
band organ, or an Artizan or a North Tonawanda Military Band Organ
(possibly being endless paper rolls), although organs made in Europe
by Gavioli, Ruth, Bruder, and a few others were used with American
carousels as well.

The type of music was the popular music of its' day: marches,
waltzes, fox-trots, one-steps, etc. -- tunes the public recognized.

I suggest purchasing a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical
Instruments", by Q, David Bowers, and that you read the section on
Fairground & Carousel Organs.  I am forwarding your message with my
response to the Mechanical Music Digest to let the experts there
answer you.

Wishing you lots of success with your book.

Best RAGards,

Stephen Kent Goodman