COAA and Steam
I was recently PM'd by Wallace Venable and I thought it deserved a discussion thread. COAA has been discussing various venues for organ rallies. So far it has mostly been town squares and amusement parks. It would seem to me that we should try a joint location with some steam shows as the Brits do. Can you help put COAA into some steam events ? Here's my thoughts: I too have always thought that steam shows and organs go well together. In fact, my first experience with a band organ was at steam shows. Back in the 1980s, the W146 now in the Schumacher collection was a regular at several steam shows in Ohio. I'm sure there's still cinders lying around somewhere in the pipes and windchest! I've seen few other organs at shows, most notably the DeBence museum's W153 did a few a while back. At this year's National Threshers show in Wauseon, OH, one of the steam families brought a Tangley calliope that they towed behind their "Road Locomotive" (literally!) Also at that show was a homebuilt wood pipe calliope that was in one of the merchant barns. The two biggest conflicts in my opinion are lack of space at some shows, and soot & dust. For these, the best places to go to are shows held at county fairgrounds. At many of these, there are areas that are shaded away from the smoke. One I would suggest is the LaGrange (Ohio) Engine Club show at the Lorain county fairgrounds in Wellington, OH in mid September. They have some shaded areas that are not too crowded. Railfans would like it too, as the grounds are adjacent to the CSX main line. A good list of American shows is at http://www.farmcollectorshowdirectory.com/ They publish annually a 500 page directory, both in print and on their website.

I'd be happy to show up organ in tow for a real steam rally in the states. Coal smoke and soot in the organ is a big part of the tradition! I'd really like to see more rallies at events that draw bigger crowds of people with at least peripheral interests. The UK model of combining steam with organs, vintage cars, crafts of various sorts, and other antique pastimes seems to be a good and successful one that we might do well to emulate. John, it was great to meet you at the MBSI rally this past weekend! Cheers, Roger

You used to see several organ's at the local threasher show, (I used to help show two) but a change in the organizations board eventually forced most if not all out.

I organized a band organ rally at the largest steam show in the U.S. 8 years ago at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. This venue accommodated 12 large organs and double the number of street organs. Many of the large organ owners complained of the dust getting into their organs. I would be willing to plan another one at the National Thresher's Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, but I doubt that many big organs would come.

We were at the Mt. Pleasant Old Thresher's Reunion that Gary organized. It was a great venue, and we had a huge number of people who appreciated the organs. The organs were spread throughout the grounds. I think most of the organs will return if it is possible to locate them away from the dust & dirt. Mike

Is there a lot more dirt and dust at this event than at something like Dorset? Or are American organ owners a lot more fastidious? This theme seems to come up a lot. Roger

At Mount Pleasant it was very dry, and they have large areas of bare dirt. The wind was blowing just hard enough that clouds of dust drifted across the fairgrounds--enough that you had to hold your breath or cover your nose and mouth at times. Don't get me wrong, it is a very attractive park with a lot of grass, but the areas where the machines operate are bare, and they stir it up a lot. Mike

The one critcal factor that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the majority of U.S built instruments utilize a vacuum tracking system. I remember having to constantly clean the tracker bar screens out on my friends Wurlitzer 157 when we played the threasher's show. It got ot the point that we jsut blew them out everytime we changed out a roll, which was usually after it played thru once. We had staked out one of the few plots of mowed green grass on the site, which kept the dust down to a mild roar. Then the BOD decided that particular plot of land would be an excellent spot to build a stage for square dance and clogging demonstrations. He brought his Gymonprez/Mortier to the show one more time then called it quits.

Every year they have a Steam Rally in Escondido and so a local collecter brings his band organ "The Spirit of San Dieago", a theater organ voiced band organ. I saw the organ it's self once at a band organ rally at Desconso Gardens in La Canada here in California.

Every year they have a Steam Rally in Escondido and so a local collecter brings his band organ "The Spirit of San Dieago", a theater organ voiced band organ. I saw the organ it's self once at a band organ rally at Desconso Gardens in La Canada here in California.

So yes I do think we should have a band organ rally at that event, but it will take some extra effort to opearted the rool operated instruments.

When was the last time you saw "The Spirit" at Vista? I know the owner and he told me a couple of years ago that he was pulling it off the road, as the insurance rates on the truck had gotten out of hand. In fact supposedly the play date he did at the Chula Vista Live Steamers two years this weekend ago was his last.

I did not see her(the Spirit of San Diego) at Vista, I saw her at Desconso Gardens in La Canada(next to Pasadena) more then 4 or 5 years ago. I was told by a Theater Organist at a LATOS(Los Angeles Theater Organ Society) open organ event, that She was seen at a steam fair(Either at Vista or Escondido). I am so sad to hear about the Spirit not going out any more. Their goes our last concert organ for band organ rallys(for Southern California). -Justin Senneff