The 2001 MBSI Mid-America Band Organ Rally has drawn to a close.
More than 275 people registered and many more enthusiasts, including
many MMD'ers, showed up -- it was an absolute success!

44+ band organs, 10 calliopes and 35 monkey organs arrived, including
some from as far away as Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, and California.
Attendees came from as far away as England, Germany, and Australia.

Rally organizers Frank and Hope Rider and their "Hoosier Helpers" did
a superb job making sure that everything went smoothly.  In a large
room in the Honeywell Center a large number of music boxes, organettes,
singing bird boxes, etc., were set up and demonstrated.  On Friday
night everyone attended the Peru Circus.  The circus was great but the
circus band was fantastic: the music from a 65-piece concert band
playing circus music is absolutely thrilling!

The Saturday mart was huge, with 46 tables filled with many items for
sale, such as music boxes, monkey organs, player accordions, band organ
and nickelodeon rolls, nickelodeon wall boxes, books and recordings,
music box discs, nickelodeon and band organ parts such as motors,
tracker bars, drum mechanisms, roll frames, pipes etc.

Also offered via photographs on tables were a number of instruments,
such as three Seeburg G orchestrions, a Cremona J, two Seeburg H
orchestrions, a Ruth 38 fair organ, a Wurlitzer 153, two Wurlitzer
105's, a Wilhelm Bruder, a Wurlitzer Photoplayer, etc., etc.  Some
were, in my opinion, offered at bargain prices, such as a restored
Wurlitzer 105 for just $12,000 and a restored Cremona J for just
$39,500.

As I have long said, the rally marts are the best.  For the
do-it-yourselfer or collector in need of rolls, parts, or books,
it is a paradise!  I found a long sought after original xylophone
for my Seeburg E, a book on showman's engines, and a great Capitol
'A' roll with all songs celebrating Charles Lindbergh's crossing of
the Atlantic -- Wow!

To top it all off, on Friday and Saturday night, member Art Eltzroth
threw two great parties in a large room at the Wabash Inn, complete
with bar, popcorn, piano, and pianist for sing-a-longs!  What a great
time for socializing with fellow enthusiasts and band organ experts!
Thanks, Art!

For those who did not go, you certainly did miss out on something
great, but there is always next year.  And, for those who went, what
great fun and memories!  And, yes, "Mid-Am does have _more_ fun!"

Tim Trager