Hi gang, There is a lot of excitement around the Cooley Collection
these days.  Most of you know that the world-regarded organ rebuilder,
Mike Kitner, passed away earlier this year after he lost his long
battle with cancer.  His estate is now sold, including a large number
of absolutely wonderful mechanical musical instruments.  We were
fortunate to purchase the 43-note Frati organ, seen at band organ
rallies (converted to play 43-keyless Bruder rolls).  Later, we
purchased the last instrument that was sold, the 80-keyless Gebr.
Bruder Fairground Organ (picture attached for archives).

Ronald Schmuck, world traveled expert in restorations, recently moved
this wonderful organ, with three magnificent animated figures, from
Mike's shop to our new Fairground Organ Room in our Delaware home.
For those attending the 2001 MBSI Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD, the
first part of August, you will have several opportunities to see and
hear this organ perform.

The organ comes with 20 books of very familiar fairground organ tunes,
recut from original books in the famous Bruder style.  In addition,
there are about 60 more books that are playable or needing a little
"sprucing up", giving a total library of hours of music.

There is a saying that "nothing is so perfect that it can't be
improved".  So Mike added a superb ocarina pipes rank.  Since this
organ does not have a "bell rank" (xylophone, bells, glock, etc.),
the ocarina rank, with music punched at just the right location, is
outstanding.  We plan to add the bell rank at a later date to use the
full musicality of the Bruder 80 music.

With a 97-key Bursens, a 60-key Limonaire, a Model 36 Ruth (hopefully
soon), a 43-keyless Frati and a 47-key Gavioli, the 80-note Bruder is
in good company.  Hope to see many of you at the 2001 MBSI meeting.

Highest regards,
Rick and Betty Cooley
http://members.aol.com/cotps
http://members.aol.com/cotp

 [ See the photo at http://mmd.com/Pictures/  -- Robbie