With regards to band organs playing on carrousels, I'd like to add
my view.  As the principal caretaker of the Hersheypark band organ
(Wurlitzer 153), I can tell you that most amusement parks do not have
the interest in maintaining an organ.  Hershey is fortunate in that
besides myself, a life-long band organ lover, we've had Bill Black
to care for it over the years, and, of course, the late Mike Kitner.
Were it not for the latter two, I seriously doubt that this organ
would still be playing.  I came back to the park in 2000 and took over
the daily/weekly/monthly maintenance.

Being in the business, I know very few parks (especially the bigger ones)
that have anyone interested enough, or skilled enough, to keep the old
girls playing.  Fewer yet are willing to part with the sometimes large
expenses associated with these instruments when parts start to fail.
Add to that a decreasing number of qualified individuals willing to
restore or partially restore these instruments, and you see less and
less playing.  An amplifier, speakers and CD player goes for under
$500 -- a pump rebuild goes for $5000.  You do the corporate math.

I realize the number 20 playing organs was a guesstimate, but I believe
it to be a good bit higher.  I can think of around 15 just in
Pennsylvania.  It is, though, possibly around 50.  In my mind, this is
still a disappointing number, but I can understand it.  Perhaps there
should be more of a push by the members of this community to reach out
to parks that have non-playing instruments and get them running again.
I don't know the answer to this.

I know that as long as I'm around and Hersheypark keeps paying the
bills, the 153 will continue to play.

Rich Sitler