Hello.  I was just reading some old Digests when I stumbled across one
that caught my eye: "New York State Band Organs", by Matthew Caulfield,
in 991114 MMD.  It lists several different organs on carousels in New
York State.  I was born in New York City, and lived there until I was
three.  I spent part of my time with Mom, going on errands with her
and most important, riding the carousel and listening to the organ at
Central Park.

The organ (I thought it was a Bruder) was one of my favorites, and it
sounds great playing the 150 rolls.  (I now know it's a Ruth model 33.)
I also went to Forest Park several times, and Flushing Meadows, Coney
Island, and Prospect Park each once.  I knew what most of the organs
were, but two I couldn't identify.

The first one was very small, and on the Forest Park carousel.  I heard
somewhere it was a Ruth, but I'm not sure because I thought Ruth only
made larger organs.  I only heard it once, and the rest of the time
there was recorded music played.  I have a picture of it somewhere.

The second organ was very large, and on the Flushing Meadows carousel
that was put together for the World's Fair sometime in the 1960's.
All I can remember is that It had a new facade, or the old one was all
covered in cutouts of cartoon characters (such as Donald Duck) and was
rather boxy.  It had two side wings for percussion (I seem to remember
drums and castanets) and a center section with swell shutters.  I think
below the shutters there was a set of bells.

The MMD article says about the organ, "a big old fellow, playing 81-key
B.A.B. rolls on one tracker and Wurlitzer 165 on the other."  I heard
somewhere it was a Bruder (Elite Orchestra Apollo or bigger?).

I have gotten out a tape someone made for me of several organs (tunes
and organs unidentified) that I think was recorded near or at Flushing
Meadows, probably at an organ rally, and was wondering whether or not
this might be one of them.

Sincerely,

Andrew Barrett