Hello,  First, let me apologize for writing so much lately.  I only
try to help with my limited knowledge.  On the subject of the future
of mechanical music, I'd like to say that at 16 years of age, I am
probably the second youngest subscriber and contributor to MMD.
Here's how I got started:

I was born and raised in New York City, New York.  Both of my parents
grew up on the West Coast.  However, my father is a traditional jazz
musician, so he and my mother elected to move to New York City so he
would find work there.  Sometimes Dad would get overseas gigs and
occasionally Mom and I would go along.

My first exposure to mechanical music was at a large war museum in
Germany.  They had several dance organs there and Mom or a friend
would put coins in the remote coin box and start them up.  I was only
two then so I hardly remember anything at all, but my mom tells me
I was clapping my hands and enjoying the moving accordions on the
facade.  Later, back home, Mom soon took me for my first ride on the
Central Park carousel, and of course I was hooked on the ride and the
music of the organ.  So, not having much else to do, she would take me
for rides almost once a week.  However, due to the somewhat dangerous
life in New York City, my parents elected to move to Roselle Park,
New Jersey, a safer place to raise a kid.  Soon I was enrolled in
preschool.  I continued to visit New York City, however, and saw
several other carousels with organs (Prospect Park, Flushing Meadows,
Forest Park, Coney Island, Nunley's Park).

One day my mother read in the local paper that there was going to be
an steam railroad open house in Allaire state park, which was not too
far away.  The article said that there were going to be some old band
organs there, too.  When I visited there one of the first things
I heard was band organ music which materialized in the form of
a Wurlitzer 125, painted red, white, and gold, and mounted on a truck.

After riding the steam trains and looking over the various other items
there, Mom took me over to meet the owner of the organ, Mr. Charles
W. King.  He explained a little bit about the organ and let me watch
while he changed a roll.  We exchanged addresses, and pretty soon
I got a letter from him expressing appreciation of someone young being
so interested in band organs.  In future letters he sent copies of
old advertising material and cassette tapes of organ music.

Soon he invited me and my parents over to see his collection.  Wow --
I had never seen so many different instruments in one place!  There were
several coin pianos and orchestrions there, and a player piano with
something like 1000 rolls.  My father was impressed by the musicality
of some of the orchestrions, especially the Link, and I was impressed
not only by those, but by the sing-along player piano rolls.

There is no one person I would credit more with sparking my interest
than Mr.  King.  I believe that he is a member of AMICA and MBSI, and
has given me information about these clubs.  This year I will finally
sign up for both.  I don't know why I didn't years ago.

When I was in third grade my family moved to California, to be closer
to our extended family.  A few years ago I attended my first organ
rally.  I now try to go to the rally held in Sierra Madre every July,
as well as the one in Fullerton every October.  I inherited a
(non-working) player piano and have built up a collection of rolls,
and now would like to learn how to restore it.  When it is restored,
I will try to get as many people as possible to see it.

I hear that the Model 33 Ruth on the Central Park carousel has been
removed for a rebuild.  I hope whoever is doing this gets rid of the
dual Wurlitzer 150 spoolframes, converts it back to play music books
and adds a MIDI system so the organ can still play the Wurlitzer music
along with the correct books and MIDI files adapted from other organ
scales.  Also, I hope the Bruder Elite Orchestra Apollo organs on the
B&B Coney Island and Flushing Meadows Corona Park carousels (especially
the latter), get a similar treatment when their time comes.  I would
love to be able to arrange some rags and other tunes for this latter
organ.  It has great potential.

I hear that the Prospect Park organ (Wurlitzer 153) is playing strongly
thanks to the efforts of Mr. Tim Westman and various MMD members.
There is a small Ruth organ on the Forest Park carousel in Queens;
I heard it once as a kid, and now I understand it does not play.  Last
time I was there (nearly 10 years ago) they were using recorded rock
and kiddie music.  Let's not let the carousels of New York City go
without proper music -- we need something to hook future enthusiasts!

Sincerely,
Andrew Barrett