Carousel Organ at Six Flags Park, Agawam, MA
By Bill Luca
The organ is a Wurlitzer 146b duplex with bells. I was familiar with
this instrument when it was situated on the carousel at Salem Willows
Park in Salem, Massachusetts. It previously had operated at Myrtle
Beach, South Carolina, and was owned at both locations by Gray Tuttle
before being sold to Riverside Park in Agawam, Massachusetts, in the
mid-late seventies.
Under Gray Tuttle's ownership, it had been "repaired"; its original
pumps replaced by a blower. The blower was with it when it was sold
to Riverside Park. It operated for at least some of its first year in
Agawam. The Riverside crew appreciated the organ and purchased some
rolls for it from me.
The center section of the facade was in solid condition though the
top crest had been modified. I can't imagine how it can have "rotted
away", given that the side wings are in perfect condition. The wings
show the fine paint job given them when the carousel was redecorated
in the early 1980s. The bass drum head shows the "Riverside" logo
still visible.
Six Flags has had ample opportunity to bring this instrument back
into operation. There are several experienced band organ rebuilders
in the New England/Northeast region. To earlier inquiries about
repairing the organ, the park has replied that they intended to do
the work "in house", presumably by ride maintenance workers -- which
should send a collective shudder throughout this group.
Thankfully that seems to have been an "official" response. With all
due respect to your wish to see the organ returned to service, if you
look at this instrument and ask what kind it is and who would have
made it, you probably aren't the person who should be repairing or
restoring it. I can recommend a capable person, if the park is
truly interested.
Bill Luca
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(Message sent Mon 21 Aug 2006, 19:27:44 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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