Several weeks ago, while searching for information on local band
organs, I re-discovered that a band organ exists at the W.E. (Bill)
Mason Carousel in Los Gatos, California, about a ten-minute drive from
my house.  I last visited the machine 10 years ago.  In checking their
website I found that the park season opened March 15th.

Saturday morning was a fine summer day, perfect for an outing to the
park.  I had a little trouble finding it again as the carousel is
actually located in a city-run playground next to a much larger
regional park that skirts a reservoir.

The merry-go-round is English and was a traveling machine.  Unlike
most American carousels, it turns counter-clockwise.  The place was
packed with families enjoying the ride; many children receiving that
memory which will last a lifetime of riding the wooden horses.

Investigation showed something that looked like a Wurlitzer reproduction
in a small room.  I had called during the week and was told the organ
was non-functional.  This did not deter me.  I asked at the ticket
counter if it would be possible to see the mechanism as I was
constructing something similar.

There was not problem getting access to the organ.  The ticket taker
called the manager (who came practically as soon as the page was
complete), a courteous young fellow named Matt, who seemed to enjoy
having someone take a technical interest in things.

The reproduction is not a 125, as it looked on the outside.  It is
labeled Erb Engineering, Hayward, California.  Investigation of the
mechanics indicates an unusual arrangement: it looks more like a
theater organ than a band organ, with large pallets on the motors.
There are no pipes under a sub-floor; instead, the pipes rise from the
right side.  A blower is in the front.  Wood valve blocks are used but
they are on a separate structure than the stack proper.

I asked what the problem was.  He said that it made weird noises in the
middle of the roll.  Now, Wurlitzer 125 organ do not have registers.
In explaining this I discovered that the machine was playing Style 150
rolls!  Another look at it and it seemed to be a Wurlitzer 146 scale
reproduction in a 125 box.

I am told volunteers come out on Tuesdays to keep the train and carousel
operational.  Railroad enthusiasts will want to check out the toy train
that is the park's main attraction.

Julie Porter

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad & W.E. Mason Carousel,
Oak Meadow Park, P.O. Box 234, Los Gatos, CA 95031
Tel.: 1-408-395-RIDE.  Directions:  From Hwy 17, exit CA 9W
(Los Gatos/Saratoga Rd).  Turn right on University.
Located at corner of Blossom Hill Rd & University.
Open Mar 15-June 15 on Tues-Sun; June 15-Sept 3 open daily.

http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/parks_and_rec/billy_jones_rr/cl_desc.html
Map & information at http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/traveler.html