"The American Carousel Organ, An Illustrated Encyclopedia" by Ron Bopp. Published in 1998 by Palmer Printing, St Cloud, MN. Hardcover, 283 pages with over 450 black-and-white photographs, advertisements and color photographs. Includes a CD of the Wurlitzer 153 Carousel Organ. The book measures 11-1/4 inches (28.5 cm) high by 8-3/4 inches (22.4 cm) wide.

Text from the book's dust jacket reads as follows:

The music that one encounters from a carousel, or carnival or amusement park for that matter, is an upbeat, exciting type of music. It stirs one's emotions and prepares us for an anticipated "good time." This music originally was provided by mechanical organs in the late 19th century and the first 30 years of the 20th century until electronically-amplified music became feasable. These mechanical organs were known as "Band Organs" in general and when associated with the carousel were marketed and sold as "Carousel Organs." The same organs were also popular for the skating rink industry and many were sold for that purpose.

No matter where these mechanically-operated organs were placed, they did provide what enthusiasts endorse today as The Happiest Music On Earth! The music from these organs just seems to set the mood for the circling horses and menagerie of a carousel. Today preservationsits of the existing carousels and band organs both agree that the two entities go together like "peanut butter and jelly."

This book covers the almost 40-year span of the production of these wonderful organs. Many examples are noted where the organs are used together with a carousel.

Contents

    The Carousel Organ
    Acknowledgements
    Preface
    Dedication
    Introduction
    Chapter 1 - The deKleist Years
    Chapter 2 - The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company - Early
    Chapter 3 - The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company - Late
    Color Photograph Section
    Chapter 4 - The North Tonawanda Musical Works Company
    Chapter 5 - The Niagara Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co.
    Chapter 6 - The Artizan Factories, Inc.
    Chapter 7 - The American Carousel Manufacturers
    Chapter 8 - Band Organ Music
    Chapter 9 - And The Band (Organ) Played On...
    Appendix
            Photograph Index
            Glossary
            Bibliography
            List Of Tables
            Organs On Location Index
    Carousel Locomotion

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