( Robbie,  Here is the article I promised concerning the trip Anne
 ( and I made.  I have had all the people involved to read and correct
 ( any mistakes, and they approve of all the info included.
 [
 [ Thanks for checking with the collectors, Sam.  It's a fine article!
 [ -- Robbie

In MMD 2001.05.05 it was mentioned that Anne and I would be making a
cross country trip along old "Route 66".  It was a dream to see the old
route and the many great stops along the way.

I decided to mention the trip in the MMDigest hoping to arrange visits
with other MMD'ers along the way.  The response was somewhat
disappointing since this route would go through some of the most active
mechanical music locations in the US.  The following is a report of the
people who responded, and the collections they shared.

Sanfilippo collection:

The first stop was the Sanfilippo Collection located just outside
Chicago.  It was the royal treatment here!  Curator Robert Ridgeway
took time out of a very busy day to show the collection.  The whirlwind
tour was about 2.5 hours and what an unbelievable time it was!

It's great to know someone who has the means is concerned enough to
locate, acquire, restore, maintain and display these marvelous
machines.  I'm not saying Mr. Sanfilippo is doing this out of a heart
of love for the history and preservation of these instruments, but it
must have something to do with it.  I really don't care if he is just
doing it as a financial investment; however, we all know instruments
restored to this degree may never sell on the open market for the
restoration cost.  Mr. Sanfilippo must understand this well.  Still,
he spends his money to preserve these instruments and for that I'm
personally grateful.  A wonderful job, Mr. Sanfilippo -- you are a
lucky man!

The tour started in a workshop just beside the main restoration
facility where two men and a lady were working on a reproduction of a
passenger rail car.  It was really starting to take shape.  It will be
pulled behind the #18 steam locomotive as soon as the tracks are laid.
The car is totally wood and all the carvings are done on site by hand.
All the workers were very nice and allowed us an opportunity to see the
work they were doing.

Also in this same building were a number of nickelodeons and
orchestrions stored in unrestored condition.  When Mr. Ridgeway was
asked if he needed someone to take one of these unrestored instruments
off their hands, and he 'smashed and dashed' that hope upon the rocks
of high price!  His response was a joke and so was the offer (I think).

Moving from the rail car building, we headed over to the building which
contains the Eden Palais Carousel.  Upon entering the building one
notices the cobblestone flooring and the trees which are on either side
of the floor area.  These trees have small Christmas type lights on
them and add a lot of character to the enormous room.  Here is where
the marvelous collection of Wurlitzer band organs are housed including
model numbers 180, 165, 150, 153, and the 105.  Of course the favorite
was the Wurlitzer 180!  No doubt this is the largest band organ we have
heard, and after the demonstration we were in shock.  I _want_ one of
those.  :-)

Also housed in this hall was a 1890's popcorn cart, the nicest 4-sided
street clock you will ever see, the #18 steam locomotive, and a 1915
steam roller.  Mr. Ridgeway demonstrated a Limonaire organ with three
animated figures which play tuned bells, and a very nice 1950s Decap
dance organ with three accordions.  This organ has 121 keys and uses
book music.  Really a nice sounding machine and the lighting effects
are really nice.

Also demonstrated were the two Hooghuys organs.  One was huge and was
playing a nice arrangement of "My Blue Heaven", but the surprise was
the _power_ of the smaller Hooghuys which has 57 keys.  That thing could
scare the pants off someone if they were not forewarned!

The final treat in this building was the wonderful Eden Palais
Carousel.  What a beautiful work of art.  It was just glistening with
the brass rails and the silver and gold gilding.  It could not have
been any better if it had been a dream!  The new 89-key Gavioli type
organ was the sweetest sounding organ in the whole building.  We could
have listened to that organ all afternoon, but with only 2.5 hours
there was still a lot to see, so it's on to the main house.

Our car was still parked in the shady circle drive in front of the
main rebuilding workshop.  Driving down to the house, one passes a
beautifully manicured lawn and landscape which ends at the circle
parking area in front of the house complete with water fountain and
street clock.

Walking up a few steps Mr. Ridgeway opened the main door leading into
the grand foyer.  To get a good mental picture of this area one needs
to imagine the Grand Staircase on the Titanic.  Awesome!  Just to the
left was the first music room which was wall-to-wall musical instruments.
These instruments were not shown due to time constraints.  To the right
of the entry was the new music room which was four stories tall and
contained a number of instruments, including the 5/80 Wurlitzer pipe
organ.

The first instrument played was the 1922 Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina.
This is the instrument that has the three violins at the top.  The
expression and arrangement were super.

Next was the DeLuxe Violano-Virtuoso "Double Mills."  Needless to say
it was not as 'cultured' as the Hupfeld, but then again it was not
supposed to be.  The arrangement was a little more "rowdy" and that
is how it should be with the Mills.

The Wurlitzer Automatic Harp was played upon request.  There were a few
strings that needed replacing and Mr. Ridgeway played the machine with
regrets.  Still it was a neat machine to watch.

Next was a 1910 Weber Otero Orchestrion with a painted and animated
scene.  The sound of the pipes on this machine were wonderful.  Next
was the Philipps Pianella Mandolino which had been restored by Arthur
Reblitz.  This machine was _perfect!_  The Hupfeld Helios I/22
Orchestrion was another machine very much enjoyed.

The favorite vintage machine was the 84-key Mortier Cafe Organ, model
41.  This organ had the most mellow sound we have ever heard from an
automatic pipe playing machine!  We fell in love with the sound the
second it started playing, and this was before the jazz flutes began
playing.  When these pipes played it was an unbelievable sound; that
solo rank was simply beautiful and heavenly.  I would mortgage the farm
for one of those!

Finally Mr. Ridgeway suggested a seating area across from the organ
console, then he started the Wurlitzer 5/80 pipe organ.  As the first
selection played the organ rotated better than half way around to the
left then to the right and back center.  During the second selection it
sank into the floor and then back to stage level.  Amazing!  This was an
unreal chance of a lifetime (for me anyway).  The blue four-story
curtain was a proper setting for such a majestic organ.

This was the most powerful instrument ever experienced.  As the
different registers were played one could tell they were from different
areas of the room.  It was simply amazing!  After the first selection
emotional shock was the reaction.  As the room fell quiet there was
about a full 30 seconds of pure silence.  It was simply overwhelming.
We were moved to tears.  Listening to this organ was not just a
listening experience, it was an emotional one as well.  It can not be
explained, you have to experience it for yourself.  There is a way to
do this without actually traveling to Chicago.  How?  Buy the new CD
"Xanadu featuring John Giacchi."  It was a fitting end to a magnificent
time viewing the Sanfilippo collection.  After listening to the organ
we said our good-byes and reluctantly vacated a most wonderful place.

Bob Taylor collection:

The second mechanical music stop was on Wednesday, July 11.  Bob
Taylor's home was found some what north of "Route 66," but the detour
was worth every mile.  Upon arriving he introduced his lovely wife,
Gloria, and his mother, Elizabeth Taylor!  No kiddin', Bob Taylor is
the son of Elizabeth Taylor.  Well, she is not THE Elizabeth Taylor,
but what a sweetheart!

Bob was the tour guide and he began in the basement.  Here he showed
his new project, a 1929 Duo-Art Organ Concertola rebuilt and playing
via a MIDI interface.  Sure was a beautiful changer and was working
great!  It was super to watch the changer work.  He has acquired a 1914
pipe organ with 2,000 pipes in 34 ranks.  After a few minutes in the
basement he opened the back door to reveal a new music building which
will house the organ and a few other instruments.  The new music hall
is going to be wonderful, and it has been built especially with the
organ in mind.  It will also act as a bathing and changing facility for
their new swimming pool.  There will also be some workshop space and a
guest suite.  (Hey Bob, when it's ready give us a call and we will test
it out for ya! :-)

Back in the house, he took us into the office and demonstrated the 1936
Ampico Spinet top loader.  He also took the time to take the case apart
reveling all the Ampico mechanism in the foot of the piano.  If you
think the grand case is crowded you have not seen anything yet!  It was
so packed that there was no room for _air!_  In fact, the hitch pins
for the bass strings had been snipped off short in order to get the
pump in.  The piano was playing very nice and it was some work to get
the knee board in and out.  Thanks a bunch, Bob.

Next, in the downstairs den, he demonstrated his Steinway XR Duo-Art.
If you ever get a chance to meet Bob, get him to tell you the wonderful
story about acquiring this piano.  The Steinway was restored in the
1970's and was playing very well.  We spent a lot of time video taping
this piano because this is the same model as ours.  These models do not
have the Tempomatic knob and the spool box hangs from the case as ours
should, however, upon inspection our spool box belongs to a model where
the unit is mounted rather than hung.  We were planning to make it fit
but have been warned that it would be too deep.  Anyone have a hanging
type for sale or trade for the mounted variety?

Across the room from the Steinway was what looked like the largest
grand piano case ever seen.  After a closer look this was not a piano
at all, but a pipe organ in a grand style case.  It was an Este
Minuette three rank organ.  Bob was kind enough to turn on the blower
and demonstrate the organ.  Sure was a neat piece!

Down the hall and to the left was a former 'kids room' converted to a
roll library and editing room.  Bob has a wonderful set up for
repairing and punching rolls.  A few years ago he was involved in a
project where he was responsible for some Ampico roll coding.  He took
the time to demonstrate how this was done and then showed an original
editing roll.

With this roll in hand the tour went back upstairs to the music room
where he placed the roll in his 1930 walnut Louis XV art-case Mason
and Hamlin Ampico Model B piano.  The case was a real knockout.  Anne
and I loved the piano; we wanted to take it home.  Next he moved to the
adjacent wall where the next reproducing grand sat.  It was a 1926
Mason and Hamlin Ampico Model A, in black.  You could check your tie
in the finish of this one.  Man, it was another beauty!  The piano
played with _great_ expression and it was wonderful listening to a
couple of classical pieces on this piano that played and sounded so
good!

Bob also told us the story about the three large matching Chinese style
roll cabinets which had originally been made for Mr. Stoddard, and had
once been in his apartment.

After some pizza and a good nights sleep it was Goodbye!  What a
great couple.  The time with the Taylor's was (to say the lest) very
enjoyable.  I hope we get another chance to be with them again.  If you
get an opportunity you should go, and have a wonderful time!

Craig Brougher collection:

The third and final Mechanical Music stop was in Independence, MO.
That's right!  On to the house of Craig and Ellen Brougher.  Craig had
a bandage on his finger!  He had been fighting with a table saw and
lost!  Really looked nasty, hope it is healing okay.  He had just
finished a small Aeolian grand Duo-Art.  This small piano was playing
_very well!_  It's expression was wonderful and the piano case work was
just as nice.

Upstairs was the real treat, a concert by the orchestrion "Spirit of
Independence."  What a great instrument.  Craig really demonstrates
with this project that he knows a little about what he is talking
about!  After a few pieces the case was opened and it was time to take
a closer look.  This thing is really engineered.  Whoever buys this
instrument will have many hours of trouble-free playing.  All of the
selections were arranged by Craig himself.  Great job.  All the
arrangements were wonderful and snappy!  A very happy instrument.

After Mrs. Ellen's wonderful lunch Craig headed for the living room
where there were two more instruments.  First it was the build-up.
It was very nice, and if you didn't know it was a build up you would
swear it was original.  The xylophone was hand made and sounded super.
Sure was a snappy and happy sound!  While it was playing it sounded
like a surround sound system had been turned on, but Craig had slipped
across the room and was playing along with the orchestrion on the
Chickering.  Have you ever heard Craig play piano?  Next time you see
him near a piano ask him to play.  Even with a bad finger he was great!
Great talent!

Finally it was time to hear the famous Chickering Ampico B.  Needless
to say it was outstanding!  The title of the selection has been
forgotten, but it was a showcase piece that really put the piano
through it's expression range.  It was not the loud playing that was
impressive, but it was the soft playing.  This piano had a very wide
expression range.  All of this after years of playing.  Some discount
Craig's ideas, but the proof is in the hearing.  Wonderful collection,
Craig, thanks for hosting us.  We had a wonderful time!

The meeting with Marty Roenigk at the Crescent Hotel never happened.
We were hoping to stay the night in this wonderful hotel, not to
mention getting the chance to meet Marty and see the collection.  It
seems that he had to leave on a trip and he was going to be heading out
to the organ rally which was to begin around the same time.  Maybe some
other time (like when you find me the "Links")!  We also had to call
and cancel our meeting with Pete Knobloch.  We simply run out of time.

Anne and I had not planned to make the "66" trip all the way to Santa
Monica, but at the last moment decided to make a mad dash for the
coast!  Arriving in Santa Monica a few hours before sunset, we found a
room right on the main street across from the pier.  After settling in
it was time to check out the carousel.  The Wurlitzer organ was not
playing, and that was a little disappointing.  The attendant was asked
if the organ was ever demonstrated, and he said it was used on the
weekend, but during the week they just played the CD's.  After many
"persuasive" arguments about coming all the way from the east coast,
and a few other tricks including bribery, he refused.

Walking back to the little park area that is between the beach and the
coastline highway a park bench was a nice vantage point to enjoy the
wonderful sunset at Santa Monica!  What a wonderful way to end the
"heading west" segment of the trip.  As nice as the sunset was, it
still pales in comparison to the wonderful things was saw in the homes
of our new friends!  We look forward to our next time together.

We arrived back in Greenville, North Carolina, 6 PM Friday evening,
traveling 7,000 miles in 12 days and seeing _everything_ we wanted to
along the way.  If you get a chance to do "Route 66", _do it!_  Hey,
here's a great idea: let's organize a Mechanical Music "Route 66" tour.
What fun that would be traveling together visiting collections along
the way!

Thanks, "Route 66", and thank you, Robert, Bob, and Craig.  You folks
helped make the trip the best vacation Anne and I have ever had!

Sam Harris - Greenville, North Carolina
http://www.Geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9374