"WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE"ONLY $11.99
The Big Bertha Merry Go Round Organ captures the adulation of audiences everywhere she is exhibited. One of three organs that were on a beautiful old Looff Carousel in Ramona Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan, she was put is storage until moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Big Bertha is a Limonaire Organ having been made in France in the late 1800's. She was purchased by Paul R. Eakins in 1963, and over 2500 man-hours were spent in completely redoing the organ from August 1963 to June 1966. During 1978, the fifth change in the method of programming was made for Big Bertha.
First, she was a Barrel Organ, playing from a 90 key pinned cylinder. Second, she was changed to play from perforated cardboard books of music. Third, in 1913, was converted to play from North Tonawanda endless rolls. Fourth, changed to play from 82 key Artizan rolls. Fifth, now plays from #165 Wurlitzer Military Band Organ rolls.
Big Bertha plays 369 pipes, a bass drum, a snare drum, two bells, tympani, double castanets, cymbals, a triangle, and a set of 18 bells. The very ingenious snare drum action stems back to the great Leonardo Da Vinci who designed this type of arrangement. The triangle perforations now activate the two comely bell-ringers. The Director, Big Bertha, is in time with the bass drum. The piccolos now play intermittently with the trumpets. When the piccolos are playing, the bell-ringers play in unison with the bass drum.
The bandleader holds the baton with her right hand, and when she turns her head to the left, directs in time with the bass drum; when she looks straight ahead again, she raises her left hand. She is flanked on either side by a bell-ringer. The three figures are beautifully proportioned and resemble real people. Handcarved, the embellishments are colorful and elaborate. On the top grille is an unusual figure-head resembling Columbus. Two charming cherubs with carved gossamer drapings also adorn the grille. At the lower center of the facade is a very savage-looking gargoyle. These are all fine examples of the highly specialized art of wood-carving.
Big Bertha is truly a work of art and her music is very exhilarating, bringing back the nostalgia of bygone days.
Big Bertha:Hidden Treasures Vol. 1
These unreleased tunes were recorded by Paul Eakins at the St. Louis, Missouri. This collection of songs was recorded on August 1st, 1967 and March 1st, 1966.. They were recorded using the 82 Key North Tonawanda endless rolls. This will never be heard again on Big Bertha and it is a real treat to offer these rare recordings. The first four are full length recordings from a reel entitled "Overtures" and the remaining songs are from a reel entitled "Special Edition of the Flutes"
1. POET AND PEASANT OVERTURES
2. MERRY WIDOW WALTZ
3. WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE
4. GLOW WORM
5. GIN RUMMY POLKA
6. EL RANCHO GRANDE
7. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
8. NEOPOLOTIN NIGHTS
9. ON PARADE MARCH
10. BEER BARRELL POLKA
11. SAN ANTONIO ROSE
12. ISLE OF CAPRI
13. DOWN IN THE VALLEY
14. ON THE ALERT
Listen to a sample.....