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 New England Band Organ - West Springfield, MA Posted by:  neoc1
N 42° 05.394 W 072° 37.321
18T E 696667 N 4662494
The New England Band Organ manufactured by Stinson Band Organ Company is located on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition at 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, MA
Waymark Code: WM11CR1
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 09/29/2019
Views: 2
The New England Band Organ on display on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition is accompanied by two signs. One sign gives the history and details of this particular band organ while the other describes the history of band organs in general. The signs are inscribed:
Eastern States Exposition Presents a Mighty and
Magnificent Stinson Band Organ
The Big E's "New England Band Organ" is one of the
world's finest fairground band organs produced in the 21st
Century by the Stinson Band Organ Company,
Bellefontaine, Ohio. The band organ is a product of
hundreds of hours of tedious workmanship by some of the
finest artisans within America, to include master organ
architect Mr. Donald Stinson.
The "New England Band Organ" was custom built
for the Eastern States Exposition in 2002 under the direction of
Exposition president Wayne McCary. It contains hundreds
of handcrafted wooden pipes to include 16-foot trombones
with ranks of melody, counter melody, and accompaniment
orchestration. A full complement of percussion instruments
include a 22-note bar bell glockenspiel. The "New England
Band Organ"is voiced to play American and European
music including hundreds of marches, polkas, waltzes, and popular
tunes which are programmed within Stinson's state-of-the-
art MIDI Operating System.
The stunning facade features ornate carvings, beautifully
hand painted scenes of autumn in New England, abundant
gold leaf decoration and vintage animated figures that
play instruments in synchronization.
The outstanding musical performances of The Big E's "New
England Band Organ" and elegant workmanship illustrated
within this magnificent objet d'art, is intended for your
long lasting enjoyment.
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A History of Band Organs
Band Organs are self-playing mechanical musical
instruments said to have been developed in the 17th century.
Music systems developed over time included cylinders
with pins that triggered valves, folding cardboard music
books, and paper music rolls that were also common
within player organs and pianos. The 21 Century
introduced abilities to optimize band organ music
presentations to level never before imagined using MIDI
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface).
North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Company, located in
upstate new York, was the 1st band organ factory to
originate in America in 1893. During the early part of the
19th Century, when paper roll music systems became a
standard in America, other manufacturers sprang to life
to include Wurlitzer who produced thousands of
mechanical band organs. During the long history of
mechanic band organs, live music was produced for
carousels, fairgrounds, midways, dance halls, roller skating
rinks, and concert pavilions, without the necessity for
live musicians. During the early 20th Century, a carousel
(Merry-Go-Round), without a band organ, was rare!
It might be said that a lot more innovation went into
designing and building elaborate ornate facades that went
into the perfection of optimal mechanical components. A
facade could easily cost considerably more to build that all
of the instruments that comprised many band organs.
Today, there are but a handful of artisans in the world who
build truly magnificent band organs, with Stinson
Band organ Company of Bellefontaine, Ohio recognized
to be among the finest.
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