“rally edition” - coaa.usraffins, stubers, castlewoods, and john smiths. other hand organs...

The Official Journal of theCarousel Organ Association of America (COAA)

Devoted to enjoying, preserving and sharing knowledge of all outdoor mechanical musical instruments, including band, fair and street organs, calliopes, and hand-cranked organs of all sizes.

“Rally Edition”

2012

Photos for the 2012 Rally Edition were provided by several COAA members including Mike Barnhart, Jonathan Bopp,Mary Jo Bopp, Dan Davis, Nick Doten, Ted Guillaum, Sam Harris, Angelo Rulli, Paul Senger, Tim Wagner, and Ron Bopp.

Lake Winnepesaukah—Rossville, GeorgiaMay 26-28, 2012

Eighty six people gatheredat Lake WinnepesaukahAmusement Park on MemorialDay Weekend, 2012. We hadattendees from 17 states,Canada and The Netherlands.I believe this is the largestattendance ever achieved forthe Lake Winnie Rally.Thankfully there were neverany threats of rain, but the tem-peratures exceeded 90 degreesat times, which made for somevery hot days.

Of course, success is notmeasured only by attendance.We had an excellent time withthe usual “Crank OrganConcert.” There were so many organs that the concert provided over an hour of greatmusic and singing. Wally Venable demon-

strated the new percussion that was addedto Norma’s organ and also featured aRussian piece of music. Ted Guillaumdemonstrated a song on his new roll fromThomas Sterk.

Lake Winnie provided us with a fan-tastic meal, dessert and plenty of leftoversfor those who were still hungry. Each reg-istered group also received a very specialgold-plated carousel horse ornament. Thisis just another illustration of the great

southern hospitality that thatwe receive from Lake Winnieeach year.

After dinner we weretreated to the usual TrudyConcert. Members of the bandthis year included David &Darlene Wasson, Ron & GlynnKeisler, Dave Vincent, MikeyMills, Ted Guillaum, TimWagner, Burl Updyke andWally Venable. Everybodydid an excellent job and Iwould like to extend my grati-tude to all the band membersfor their great entertainmentand hard work.

Sunday evening includedthe usual group dinner at one of the local

Our hosts, Talley Green and Adrienne Rhodes. Doug Mauldin and Dave Haibach.

Rally Edition of the Carousel Organ, Fall of 2011

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Italian Restaurants, Portofino’s. We hadForty plus people present for the meal.The food and prices are always great, butthe best part is eating, relaxing and talkingwith other fellow COAA members after along, hot day at the park. Speaking of eat-ing and relaxing, the host hotel hospitalityroom was busier than ever this year. It wasopen Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.There were plenty of good snacks anddrinks, but the most important thing wasthe air-conditioning!

One of the highlights of the rally wasto hear the beautiful Model 33 Ruth organat the carousel playing again, and playingvery well! Special thanks go to Doug &Danell Mauldin for all their efforts in get-ting this organ to play. The Mauldinswanted to acknowledge the help of BillKlinger, Ron & Glynn Keisler and WayneHolton for all their help on this project aswell.

If enjoying the organ rally was notenough for some folks, Lake Winnie isalways generous enough to offer everyperson registered for the rally an unlimitedride pass for all three days! I reallyenjoyed the “Cannonball” rollercoaster aswell as the “Ozone” drop ride many times.

As my first time ever hosting a rally, Imust say that I really enjoyed the experi-ence. Everything went smoothly and allthe attendees seemed to enjoy the rally.Much of this was due to Ron & Glynn’sassistance in training me how to host thisrally. Again, I must note how hospitableand well run the park is. I also receivedassistance from many attendees, familyand friends. The list of people to thank isendless, but I did want to recognize all thepeople that helped me with this rally.

I will be hosting the 2013 rally and amalready excited about it. I hope those whohave never attended the Lake Winnie rallywill be willing to give it a try in 2013.Perhaps attendance will break the 100mark this time!

Jonathan Bopp

Rally organizer, Jonathan Bopp.

Tom & Kay Bode at the Crank Organ Concert.

Dave Mahr, David Wasson, Doug Mauldin andWayne Holton waiting for the organ to play.

The COAA band.

Louis Boyd and Ted Guillaum.

Jim Partrick demonstrating at the Crank OrganConcert.

Ron & Glynn Keisler received a certificate ofappreciation for hosting the Lake Winnie Rallyfour years in a row.


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Knoebels Grove Amusement Park—Elysburg, PAJune 9-10, 2012

Attendance at this year’s Knoebel’srally was a fantastic 165 (plus two pup-pies). This included several coming fromCanada, England and the Netherlands.Twenty three large organs played and wererepresented by both American firms(Wurlitzer, North Tonawanda InstrumentWorks, Stinson and Miner-Tangley compa-nies) as well as European (Ruth, Verbeeck,Bruder, Gavioli and Pleur).

These various companies presentedband, fair and street organs as well as cir-cus-type calliopes.

In addition there were 25 hand organsplaying in the park including Pells,Raffins, Stubers, Castlewoods, and JohnSmiths. Other hand organs included aStuber, Celestina, Gibson, OSI, Perlee,Prinsen, Hofbauer and a Vienna Woodsorgan. Also, a typewriter!

The rally was arranged and managedunder the careful eye of Mark Chester. Asalways, the Knoebel family, led by DickKnoebel was most gracious and helpful.

With perfect weather the organs werescattered throughout the park, some byrides and others near intersections wherevisitors could get a taste of the “HappiestMusic on Earth.”

Jim Welty and Peter Hallock.

Wilbur and Sandra Herr taking a rest.

Mark Chester, organizer of this year’s Knoebelsrally.

Galen Lesher and his 20-note John Smithorgan.

Tim Wagner and his Baby Finster.

Wally Venable, a Director of the COAA.

Harold Wade behind his Raffin hand organ.

Kevin Sheehan cranking his Dutch street organ.

Mike & Liz Barnyart with their Stinson-builtTreveris.


4Joe Hilferty adjusting his Wurlitzer 153.

Barbara & Dave Schumacher with his rebuiltWurlitzer 105.

Jan & Terry Bender aside their calliope wagon.

George Cooper & Burt Lindhart.

David Stumpf and Peter Hallock relaxing.

Charles and David Wasson. Charles is the newCOAA Treasurer.

John and Mary Lou Van Dorn playing their 32-key Prinsen.

Sam Harris and his musical typewriter.

Bob Buckler cranking his 31/85 Pell organ.


Bill Edgerton & Bill McCleary in a heated dis-cussion.

Paul Simington enjoying the music.

Dan Robinson taking a ride.

Bob Yorburg & Roger Wiegand.

Russel Wattam (England) and John Ravert dis-cussing mechanical music.

Stan & Mary Ellen Bieleski.

Bob & Marcia Ebert.

Beth Ann Mitchell cranking a 20/40 Raffin.

Young grinders: Mikey Mills, Ian Fraser &Alex Straus-Fausto.

Sandy & Bob Moore caught ‘relaxing.’

Norm Otto with his 25-key Perlee street organ.

Shawn Patton and Doug Herschberger in aintense discussion.

Dick Knoebel addressing the COAA members.

Jim Kenney demonstrating The General.

Leroy and Betty Schumacher..

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Quassy Amusement Park—Middlebury,,CT

Middlebury,, Conn. – The CarouselOrgan Association of America (COAA)came rolling into Quassy Amusement Parkhere for an Aug. 25-26 rally that was can-celed in 2011 due to Hurricane Irene.

Organs big and small converged onthe small, lakeside property for a memo-rable weekend for park guests as well asCOAA members. Early arrivals includedBurl and Shirley Updyke of HunlockCreek, Pa., with their homemade UpdykeMilitary Band Organ; Thomas Billy ofLittle Silver, N.J., with a 56-key A. Ruth &Sons; and John Ravert of Watsontown, Pa.,with a trailer-mounted DeWitte 90-keystreet organ.

They all played Friday evening, Aug.24, to a huge crowd with the Updykesplaced at Quassy’s GrandCarousel. All inall, 10 organs played for the rally and addi-tional COAA members were in attendancefor the event.

Ron GustafsonAndy Adams and Mark Chester discuss prices.

Mark Chester, Tom Evanshew, Burl Updyke &Dave Vincent are enjoying the music.nnn

Bill Griswold & Erin Brown enjoy a boat ride.

Dave Clark in front of his Wurlitzer 153.

John Ravert interviewed by a local reporter..

Tom Evansew and Billy.

Bill Clark with a self-built organ.

Dan Wilke welcomes all to Quassy.

Shirley Updyke manages the organ in front ofthe Grand Carousel

A welcome to Quassy Amusement Park

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Festa Italiana—St. Paul, MNSeptember 21-22, 2012

The second annual Festa Italiana washost to an exciting Riverboat RallySeptember 21-22 on Harriet Island, situat-ed on the banks of the Mississippi in StPaul, MN. It was a perfect setting for thiscombination of good food, entertainmentand Italian culture. The enthusiasm of theapproximately 20,000 people in attendancewas contagious.

Numerous potential organ grinderstried their hand at cranking under the tute-lage of Organ grinder Ted and were award-ed their grinding certificate. The highlightof the rally was the six linked MIDI organsplaying simultaneously. Altogether therewere 42 COAA members from nine statesplaying 24 crank organs and four carouselorgans.

On Sunday we were again able toenjoy the wonderful collections of Bill andStacy Nunn at Skyrock Farms. The goodfood and relaxed atmosphere were a greatway to end a fun weekend. With thanks toall who participated in this special event.

Suzie Hendricks

Tom Kuehn behind his self-built Wurlitzer 105.

Jerry and Betty Golmanavich with their OGM.

David Schroeder turning the crank on hishome-built Kalliorgel 50/69.

Gary Stevenson explains his Vaclav Hrubesbarrel organ.

Tom Wurdeman converses with Mary Jo Bopp.

New member, John Miller, with his Stuber.

Charlie Borchert and his Schindler hand organ.

Bill Nunn hosting the COAA members at hisSkyrock Farm organ collection.

Ted Guillaum playing on the riverfront.

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Tracy Tolzman, 20-note Pell and sideshow.


Tom Logan is all smiles.

Bill Klinger behind his Klinger 20/43 organ.

Gordy Forcier in front of his Wurlitzer 153.

Dan Davis checks his camera while Carl Cavittlooks on.

Debe & Mark Dannecker with John Miller(center).

Gene Kuntz enjoying playing the OSI organ.

Rally organizers, Suzie Hendricks and COAAPresident Angelo Rulli.

Gary Craig demonstrating the 31-note Stuber.

Dave Mahr cranking his 31/124 Raffin organ.

Tracy Tolzman, Fred Dahlinger & MikeMerrick.

Ed & Carol Ditto.

Carol & Ralph Schultz playing their Stinson.

Rich Poppe with a 35-key Imhof barrel organ.

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Ted Guillaum and Carl Cavitt all dressed toimpress.


Farmer’s Museum—Cooperstown, NYSeptember 29-30, 2012

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Fifty members of COAA gathered atThe Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown,New York, on the last weekend ofSeptember, 2012. Members from Canadato West Virginia brought trumpet organs,band organs, and busker organs to amazeand entertain crowds from Central NewYork.

Boyd Bissell kicked off the event byhosting a cocktail reception and dinner atCobblescote on Otsego Lake. He enter-tained us with his accordion artistry, as didNorma Collasessano.

Roger Wiegand set up his fabulousDiamond Jubilee just outside the greatstone barn entrance to the Museum, attract-ing one and all. The trumpet organs, bandorgans, and Dutch street organs werespread around the Empire State Carouselwhere the Mighty Military Band Organ ofthe Empire State (a 1996 Stinson that playsWurlitzer 165 rolls on a duplex frame) heldforth.

The busker organs were spreadthroughout the historic village crossroads,with an impressive gathering on the frontporch of the Bump Tavern. A concert inthe Cornwallville Church on Saturday fea-tured the 77th New York RegimentalBalladeers and their special presentation,“Hard Times Come Again No More:America's Heart Songs.” The balladeerspreserve the songs, tunes, history, and spir-it of the Antebellum and Civil War period

using original musical arrangements andlyrics.

On Saturday Bob Yorburg, who is oneof the contributing carvers of The EmpireState Carousel, spoke about and demon-strated carving the front of a carouselorgan. It was a great lecture andPowerpoint presentation. Bob is a wood-carver, a restorer, and an instructor for theAmusement Carvers of America. Postersof the Wurlitzer 165 façade featured in theCOAA magazine were available, and Bobdid a book signing of Acanthus Carving.

There was a lovely meeting and mealheld in the Crossroads Café Saturdaynight, and Joseph Van Steenburg ofBainbridge, NY, won the raffle!

Joseph Van Steenburg demonstrating.

Bob Yorburg presenting his carving talk.Craig Smith and his lineup of hand organs.

Roger Wiegand’s Diamond Jubilee. Roger can be seen at the right of the photo.

Great advertising!


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The fun continued on Sunday at TheFarmers’ Museum. The light rain thatbegan to fall about 3:00 brought an earlyconclusion to a wonderful weekend amidthe fall foliage of Central LeatherstockingCountry. Mary Margaret Kuhn and TheFarmers’ Museum are deeply grateful foreveryone who attended the Rally and hopeto host another in 2014!

Mary Margaret Kuhn

Roger Wiegand, Tim Wagner and DavidSchumacher staying out of trouble?

Wally Venable discussing his organ.

Bob Yorburg & Tom Billy.

Burl Updyke pointing out who is the boss.

Bill & Marion McCleary taking a break.

Greg Swanson.

Alex Straus-Fausto.

Bob Cole.

David Schumacher & John Ashworth.

Jill and Peter Hallock relaxing.

Eddie & Bernice Evarts.

Paul Senger and our host, Mary MargaretKuhn.


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Soulé Steam Fest & Rail Fest—Meridian, MSNovember 2-3, 2012

Thirty-three COAA members andfriends from 13 states and The Netherlandsreturned to the Soulé Steam Fest and RailFest in Meridian, Mississippi for the sec-ond time in two years. The word must bespreading about how much fun you canhave in Meridian. Our members traveledfrom Oregon to New York and Minnesotato Louisiana and Texas. The weather coop-erated completely this year with tempera-tures in the high 70’s to low 80’s and sun-shine every day. Welcome to the “SunnySouth!”

The fun began on Thursday withCOAA member and Temple Theaterowner, Roger Smith hosting a receptionwith tasty treats and beverages. Theevening included a concert on the originalMorton theater organ followed by a draw-ing in the style of the old time showboatintermission “Candy Sale” for some spe-cial prizes donated by Roger. We thenenjoyed a silent comedy featuring StanLaurel as a bull fighter. The evening endedwith presentations of the first (and proba-bly last) “Kalliope Awards” where every-one received a participation award.

Organs and Organ Grinders weregreeted at the festival with even moreenthusiasm than last year it seemed. Manypeople commented on how glad they wereto see us come back and how the SteamFest continues to grow and get better everyyear. A big advantage to COAA for holdinga rally this late in the season is the schoolsare in session and children can come ingroup outings to learn about organs andmechanical music. Once again we had sev-eral school groups wandering the festivalsite showing a great deal of interest.Refreshing and encouraging!

The Soulé Factory was originally afactory and machine shop so naturally thepeople that come to the museum areinclined to be interested in all thingsmechanical including our music. You can-not find a better blend of interests. A stand-ing invitation has been extended and wewill return next year on the first weekendin November. Local member Jean Orcuttwill be your new host so mark your calen-dars now.

Ted Guillaum

Louis and and Ann Boyd enjoy playing their20er Hofbaur Harmonopan hand organ.

Ray Ashmun came from Portland, OR to enjoythe Meridian rally.

Jim Grayson behind his Johnson 157 styleorgan.

Jean Orcutt entertains visitors with her bag-pipes.

Roger Smith chats while Stefan Batist &Jonathan Bopp listen.

Eddie and Bernice Evarts conversing withMike and Sandy Schoeppner.

Chris Ayers with his (large) self-built handorgan.

John and Margie Prtljaga.

Are wwe hhavin’ ffun yyet?

“rally edition” - coaa.usraffins, stubers, castlewoods, and john smiths. other hand organs...

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