Band Organ or Fairground organ.
If you owned a carousel(traveling or stationary) would you have a band organ or a fairground organ(at any time period, please specify why). Are thier any particular organs you would have? In the center or facing the carousel? As for my self: Time Period: Present(post 2000). Kind of carousel: Stationary How big: 5 row. Kind of organ: Band Organ: Wurlitzer 105, It's small and less costly to operate. Inside/Outside: Outside, on a small stage in the carousel building so people can enjoy the organ. (as of 10/3/08): If I where to have a fairground organ instead of the Wurlitzer I would either have "Big Bertha" the Limonare compleatly resotred and restored to book music, or have the Gavioli in the Nevada city music hall restored and put on the carousel.

This is what I took care of for Twenty five years: 46 ft. three abreast Looff/Mangels park machine originally built in 1890, with a 1914 Gebruder Bruder Model 107, 52 keyless organ. I wouldn't mind having a machine like this again................ What I would do differently would be to insure that the building was at least twice the diameter of the machine and could be closed up in foul weather and still be operated comfortably.

If I had a carousel it would one built the late 1800's or 1900's. The carousel would be: Stationary Outside/Inside: Inside a special built building so it can be ran all the time with out people getting wet or cold. Kind of organ: Gavioli,Marenghi or large Bruder or Ruth book operated with music loop keeping the music playing. Ben :org:

(My 100th post hoorah for me). Ben: Would the organ be outside of the carouel in a corner or in a stage built into the building? Or in the center or the carousel? -Justin

Re: Band Organ or Fairground organ.
Time Period: Present Kind of carousel: Stationary / medium park How big: 3-4 row. Kind of organ: Band Organ: Wurlitzer 153, The classic American band organ Inside/Outside: Inside, the way it's supposed to be. Although, having it external would allow the owner to open up the back to see all the moving parts.

if i had a carousel or a set of 'Gallopers' (galloping horses) as we call them in England, it would have to be in a lovely old traditonal style with gleaming twisted brass, heavily carved horses and rounding boards. the paintwork would be traditional fairground art. it would be a travelling ride, preferably steam powered, and the 'jewel in the crown' would be an original 89 key Gavioli organ in the center providing the music, book operated of course. i have always admired these old rides from a very young age, and still the most impressive sight at the fairground for me is a well kept set of Galloping horses.

date:1920 (year our gavi was sold to wools) Type: wools motor car scenic ride# Size: big enough for a 112 keyless gavioli and procenium Organ:our gavi Operator: ME!

Hi Justin, The organ would be in the center of the caurousel so people can listen to it when its going round or stopped to let people on. Ben

Dear Jake: Thier is this one carousel that has 20 rows of horses, so I think that(the 112-key Gavi) would fit in the center of the carousel, it is so big. -Justin

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between a band organ and a fairground organ?

Well, to awnser your question more professionally, band organs tend to be smaller than fairground organs beacuse of the use on carousel's and skateing rinks, which would cause a limit in size. Fairground organs though are more custom built and bigger, more concert and just outright makes more sense(with the exceptions of few band organs).

Actually, Stephen is correct. The term fairground organ does not signify a large instrument (or a custom built one either). A 35 key Limonaire, or 46 key Gavioli sold and used in Great Britain is called a fairground organ. Those same instruments, sold by the Berni Organ Co. of NYC, were refered to as band organs, as were the 89 and 98 key Gavioli's and Marenghi's and Ruth's and Bruders that were sold new here in the USA. It's just where they started out their business life that deterimes what term applies. Today, European built instruments are more likely to be called by their builder's name than either generic terms.

Thanks for all your replies. Hi Stephen - I think we may have met a couple of years ago when I was handing out leaflets promoting a Julie Ellison concert in Matlock! It's a small world - unless I've got the wrong person .... Thanks again for some informative posts. Best regards, John Robinson.

Dear John Indeed I remember, I was playing my Decap when you called! regards Stephen