1928 Spillman Carousel & 1908 Wurlitzer Band Organ Grand Rapids, MI

Brought to you courtesy of Laura's Last Ditch Vintage, http://www.LaurasLastDitch.Etsy.com

This 1928 Spillman Carousel resides in a beautiful pavilion at the VanAndel Museum Center, extending over the Grand River, in Grand Rapids, MI. From the Lakewood Amusement Park in Barnesville, Pennsylvania, this is the same type of carousel that was in the nearby Ramona Amusement Park in East Grand Rapids. Music provided by its 1908 Wurlitzer Band Organ. Feel free to rate or comment.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• spillman engineering
• antique
• carousel
• Barnesville
• Pennsylvania
• pa
• east
• grand rapids
• michigan
• mi
• art
• prize
• table
• chairs
• public museum
• vanandel
• museum
• center
• lakewood amusement park
• ramona amusement park
• amusement
• park
• ride
• merry go round
• horse
• wurlitzer
• band
• organ
• fun
• kids
• grand river
• vintage

[lauraandcalin]

It has found a wonderful home, and it enjoyed by many!

[DAD606]

I was there June 26 2010. The lovely restored organ was silent again! They had ugly canned band organ music on it. What a shame..

[lauraandcalin]

@DAD606

Last I went there, the organ was running again. I'm always disappointed when it's out.

[wurlitzer153duplex]

Nice carousel and organ. There are not many Wurlitzer style 157s still on public display and this one sounds pretty good. I do have to question the year of the organ, as the roll style it plays was not issued until the early 'teens.

It is more likely 1928, according to the NCA census:

"Music:Band Organ: 1928 Wurl 157"

nca-usa (dot) org / census / census-CLA (dot) html

[lauraandcalin]

The sign at the museum said the organ is from 1908, but I doubt the curators are infallible. The organ was gone the greater part of last year to have some work done on it, and I'm glad it's finally back-it sure beats the CD they were using!

[cossack207]

thank you! i remember riding this on Russian Days !!!!!!!!

[charrmmee]

beautiful - thanks

[markelram]

I was raised in Barnesville, PA and would ride that carousel every day for two weeks straight during the Bavarian Festival. I remember when they they came and dismantled it to move it out. At the time I didn't know where it was going. Looks like it found a nice home.

[Wurlitzer157]

@DAD606

Well, it depends on the operators, I'm sure the organ worked, but if you wanted to hear it, I would've asked.

[Wurlitzer157]

@DAD606

It's obvious, it's because they turn off the organ after every ride.

[Wurlitzer157]

@SuperPowerStudios

It does if not almost identical, but unlike that carousel it's smaller and only has 3 rows compared to griffith park's 4 row carousel.

[anglerfly]

@SuperPowerStudios same maker.

[SuperPowerStudios]

The carousel looks like Griffith Park