Hi Matthew,  Your post in 000528 MMDigest about the Seabreeze tune cards
and the nostalgia about Ross Davis tune indicator board brought back
some interesting memories.  I thought you might be interested in my
personal remembrances on that device(s).  I presume you never saw it
in person.

There were actually two identical devices: one each for the Griffith
Park and the Lincoln Park organs.  They were made by Herbert Vincent in
his shop in the 1940's from pin ball machine parts.  The original tune
cards were written personally by Ross Davis until roll 6700 which were
then written by his son, John (Bud) Davis.  Occasionally, as new "old"
rolls were acquired, Bud made new cards.

The indicators were operational and maintained by Vincent until his
death in the mid-1960's.  From that point on they were showing their
age, and only park employee Richard Kolish would sometimes do the
necessary maintenance.  When the Wurlitzer 165s were operating and
rolls were being changed by someone who cared, the tune cards were
also changed.  More often than not, the tune cards were not changed,
not accurate, or the mechanism was not working properly.

The machines actually had two trips.  The first was on the nickel trip
and it advanced the tunes.  The second was a micro-switch attached to
the rewind pneumatic that sprung the ratchet wheel back to tune #1 and
switched sides.  Since many rolls were 6 tunes, that device was
necessary.

The tune cards often attracted attention and contributed to some
increased interest and attendance.  When Ed Openshaw bought the Lincoln
Park organ he chose not to take the tune indicator, and I believe it
was destroyed.  The Griffith Park device was always a part of the organ
until Don Rand removed the organ, and then the device was left in the
park in the attic as you describe.  I've heard several times since that
it was long since discarded by [subsequent owners] Deasy and West.  Don
Rand often laments he didn't take it when he had the chance, as it
should have stayed with the organ.

I'm glad you developed a mechanism for Seabreeze Park.  Since Griffith
and Lincoln, I've never seen a commercial mechanism in place in any
park, so I'm glad you've reestablished the tradition.

Glenn Thomas