I was very saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Wells.  I moved
to Northern Virginia in 1969, and met Jim not long after that.  I lived
only about 10 minutes from Jim's place.  I have had a flood of memories
about Jim since the news came.

Jim was both a collector and a businessman.  His company name was
"Melody Farms" and his motto was "Our Business Is All Fun".  That
speaks of the way he lived.  I was fortunate enough to be able to
spend a lot of time with Jim, and around his place in Virginia.
I will not attempt to write any sort of story of biography, but will
just mention some of the many thoughts that keep running through my
mind.

Jim had a number of music machines mounted on trucks and trailers,
including, if memory serves me right, a Gavioli, Wurlitzer 180,
Wurlitzer 165, Wurlitzer 146, and a Calliope.  He had several employees
who, along with Jim himself, usually took these machines out on paid
jobs.  Occasionally, however, he would turn up short and he would call
me.

Especially memorable trips were taking the Gavioli to the Veteran's
Hospital in Washington, DC, and taking the Calliope out "stumping" with
a Senator (running for re-election) to many small towns in the Virginia
countryside in the fall.  Helping Jim refurbish his huge "Nipper" dog
which he removed from the top of the RCA Building in Baltimore, and
then mounted on a large, elevated platform in his yard.  His delight
in the fight with local officials who insisted on calling "Nipper" an
advertising sign, and therefore in violation of zoning codes.  He won,
of course.

Mowing acres of yard, and spending days of cleaning up and moving
things in his marvelous building, in preparation for the 2-day filming
of TV's "Evening Magazine" show.  Jim's ear-to-ear grin and twinkle in
his eye as he danced with the hostess of the show (Susan Goldwater,
granddaughter of Barry Goldwater) to the music of a Seeburg "G".

Another Seeburg "G" with a bullet hole in the soundboard.  Numerous
moving van-type trailers lined up, packed full of goodies.  His
restored farmhouse heated by a actual steam locomotive.  A roll
operated theater pipe organ (Moller, I believe) in his house.
"Laughing Sal" mounted on a trailer.  His purchase, and then resale
of the Glen Echo (Maryland) carousel, without ever moving it.

Spending hours in Jim's freely offered shop and access to his tools
and equipment.  Setting up shows in local shopping centers, where he
brought many wonderful things, including nickelodeons, music boxes,
coin operated arcade machines, carousel animals, fun house mirrors,
etc.

I remember being in his shop when he received a phone call from some
woman who was attempting to sell a square grand piano.  Jim said
"I wouldn't haul it for it".  His world class 5th wheel organ trailer
(for the Wurlitzer 180) with self-opening door and air conditioned
living quarters.  Helping close up his carousel on the Smithsonian
Mall for the winter and reopening in the spring.  (The carousel itself
remained in position year-round.  The animals and organ were removed
and the carousel was covered.)  His popcorn wagons on the Mall.
The Easter egg hunts and egg rolls on the White House lawn.

I met Jim before I ever purchased my first music machine.  He was my
mentor.  He was a friend.

So Long, Jim.  I will miss you.

Bruce Miller
Issaquah, WA