Some who hear the new replica Wurlitzer 165 at Seabreeze Park say
"it doesn't sound like the old one."  In 010925 MMDigest Matthew
Caulfield wrote about its vacuum-driven bass drum beater:

> Johnny Verbeeck took the specs for the replica from Bob Gilson's
> Wurlitzer 165 ... Johnny faithfully replicated what he found there.

That was his job; that's what he was paid to do.  Johnny didn't hear
the old (destroyed) organ or he might have replicated its sound; all
he could do was to copy another similar organ.

The organbuilder's or restorer's work, or his ethics, should not be
judged without knowledge of the contract details and the preceding
(and probably agonizing) discussions with the owner of the instrument.

The authors of the letter to "World's Fair" wrote:

> ... as organ builders we have a duty to treat all old instruments
> with respect, and to advise our clients that the conservation and
> protection of this heritage should be paramount.

I hope that the authors will tell us about the responses of their
clients, and the jobs described in the final contracts.

Robbie Rhodes