AMICA's SOWNY Chapter wishes to assist in a worthwhile heritage
protection initiative.

From the 1890s through the 1920s there were only four major band organ
manufacturing companies in the United States.  They made music machines
and they made rolls, and they were all located in North Tonawanda,
New York.  Wurlitzer dominated the scene, but smaller companies,
such as Artizan Factories, produced quality instruments with quality
musical arrangements in a different roll format perforated at 8 holes
to the inch.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, New York,
is developing an exhibit dedicated to the B.A.B. Organ Co. in order
to present a more complete display of American band organ music.
B.A.B. operated in New York City from the early 1920s through the
mid-1950s and serviced many European band organs used in New York City
and Coney Island.

Starting in 1928 B.A.B. produced and marketed music rolls using the
8-to-the-inch (8tti) format as used by the North Tonawanda Musical
Instrument Works and Artizan Factories in North Tonawanda.  B.A.B.
converted many band organs which used other formats to 8tti and
supplied new music for the converted organs and the considerable number
of North Tonawanda Musical Instrument Works and Artizan Factories
organs still in use long after these companies had ceased production.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is purchasing B.A.B.'s only
roll perforator and the remaining original master rolls.  It hopes to
produce new B.A.B. music once again after many decades.  This historic
equipment will enhance the museum's band organ exhibit, currently
consisting of three Wurlitzer organs, an Artizan style D and the
original Wurlitzer music roll production machines.

We invite your participation to help purchase this exciting and
significant addition to our Band Organ History exhibit.  Join us now!
Tax deductible donations of any size can be made to:

  Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
  B.A.B. Perforator Fund
  180 Thompson Street
  North Tonawanda, New York 14120

 [ B.A.B. perforator to be saved and restored
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/16/11/12/161112_195902_BAB_Perf_small.jpg 

Mike Walter