I wish to reply to Mr. Andrew Barrett's posting concerning the reasons
for having band organs enclosed behind glass.  I am a former resident
of New York's Coney Island.  I have never seen any band organ enclosed
for either protection against the sea air or for any other reason.
I can cite three organs that were playing for many years without
showing any wear and tear from "sea air".

The former B&B Carousell had a Bruder "Elite" Apollo playing in the
centre of the carousel from 1939-2000.  This carousel and organ were
just one block away from the Atlantic Ocean.  The carousel would open
year round (weather permitting in the winter).  During the years
1960-1990 when I visited the carousel, the organ was always in top
playing condition, unaffected by the elements.  True, there were many
small restoration jobs during this time.

Another example of organs in very close proximity to the ocean would
be the two Bruder Organs on the boardwalk of Coney Island just a few
feet away from the famous Parachute Jump.  These organs were on the
boardwalk carousel from approximately 1950 to 1963 when they were moved
to the New York World's Fair.  The only protection the carousel and
organs got was during the winter months when steel shutters enclosed
the entire carousel.  The two organs were in excellent playing
condition after having been on the boardwalk and then moved to Flushing
Meadow Park for the Fair.

I am not forgetting the Coney Island atmosphere being one of noise and
ballyhoo.  That would also tend to bring very rowdy groups of young
people who could throw rings or other items at the organs.  To my
knowledge this hasn't happened at least whenever I was there.  It will
be interesting to see, if when the restored B&B Carousell and Bruder
organ are returned to Coney Island and placed in a modern year-round
building on the boardwalk, whether or not the organ will be enclosed
this time for reasons of "volume"

I am sure we have not heard the last of this subject.

George Karpel
Burnaby, British Columbia