A last trip to see Harvey & Marion Roehl page 2

The highlight of the trip for me was the American Photoplayer that held court all the way down one side wall of the music room--almost as long as a Semi..  Harvey played it exceptionally well for us.  With a box on each end of the piano it would not all fit into the photo.

He was happy to show us inside.  First the Bass box showing the Bass Drum, Tom Tom, Jingle bells and the bass pipes.

Then the Treble end box with the solo pipes in the swell box.

and above that were the other sound effects.  The Klaxon horn (OOO-GAH horn), the Cymbal, tambourine.  The wedge shaped bellows is a boat or train whistle. and the black thing with tacks around the edges is the pistol crack.  It was like a leather covered slapstick.

There was then a trip to the basement where the automatic harp sits along with several other nickelodeons and this lovely Wurlitzer fairground organ.

I really appreciate Harvey and Marion  letting us visit their music room. They will be sincerely missed by us all.  They were both such lovely people.  May light perpetual shine on both of them. Amen  

I put up this page as a memorial to the life of a man and his life partner who, together brought many people into the world of automatic music through the publications of the Vestal Press which may be found in most libraries in this country and around the world.