[GreenKeys] saving machines (this post teeters on being OT)...

[Randy and Sherry Guttery]

{Hmm body got stripped - must have been some HTML snuck in.. 
Try again text only}

On 7/16/2011 12:35 PM, Lee Mushel wrote:
> Gil, et Al.
>
> I have long wondered what that "number" was and I will admit to being
> shocked to find it that small!
At the risk of going somewhat off topic - let me note that 
"things mechanical" do have a fairly large following these 
days - they (fixers, collectors, etc.) often have narrow 
"niches" which from anyone perspective presents a somewhat 
compressed view.

For instance - I've observed over the years - that many 
people with some interest in electronics - also have an 
interest in music - and not just passive (i.e. just 
listening) but active in some sort of music making effort 
that often wanders into thing mechanical. One of my best 
friends here is a very long time electronics technician 
(Navy and Air Force careers) and is (like myself) a holder 
of an FCC 1st with RADAR endorsement (yes we know it's not 
worth the paper it's printed on these days - but noted just 
to illustrated the electronics connection). He is the 
founder - and current guiding force in the Magnolia Theater 
Organ Society - and has been actively involved with that 
since the 1970s. Pipe organs are nothing more than a 
collection of electro-magnets controlling pneumatic 
actuators that either sound pipes (pipe valves) or operate 
relays that control which pipes sound from what keys (and 
when we're talking electro-pneumatic relays here - were not 
talking some small DPST something or other - some range up 
to 97 pole multiple armature (i.e. multiple independent 
throws). He's also been known to work on mechanical 
reproducers - anything from a "simple" player piano - to 
band organs (like the Wurlitzer band organ on the Dentzel 
carousel here in Meridian). The MTOS has an active 
membership of a couple dozen - and the ATOS (American 
Theater Organ Society) has several thousand members nation 
wide (of course not all are heavily into electronics - but 
to work on the beasts - you have to have at least a basic 
knowledge of electricity). The guy that recently bought the 
Temple Theater - made his living for many years flying 
helicopters. And driving trains *steam trains* (he's a 
licensed Steam Locomotive Engineer). His hobbies? Theater 
Organ, Projection equipment, Mechanical music makers, 
amusement devices (he has a real and fully functional 
"Zoltan" arcade machine).

My point is - while not everyone that likes "things 
mechanical" is "into" teletypes - they often do have 
interests in more than one "area" of things that move and 
"do things".

Recently - a group of people representing the Carousel Organ 
Association of America met in Meridian to take a look at our 
Dentzel Carousel and it's band organ - and when they 
discovered "the rest" of Meridian's mechanical "stuff" - 
decided on the spot to "jump in". So now the first weekend 
in November - Meridian, MS will host:

Soulé Live Steam Festival - including open house of the 
Mississippi Industrial Foundation's Museum, their Pride and 
Joy - the Soulé Steam Feed Works - including it's (largest 
working) overhead line shaft - and much of it's tools. This 
is the only "live steam" festival and demonstration in the 
country (United States) held at a Steam Engine factory. 
Soulé Spee-D-Twin serial number 4301 will be on display and 
running. This was the very last steam engine built by Soulé 
and one of the last (if not the last) production "utility" 
(not propulsion) steam engine built in America.

Queen and Crescent Railway chapter of the National Railway 
Historical Society - Museum and outdoor display area - all 
thing Railroad (including real power and rolling stock).

Meridian Model Railroad club will be hosting an open house 
showing off their quite large and incredibly detailed HO 
gauge layout with running trains all day.

The Alabama Art Casting's annual molten iron pour that they 
call "Sparks in the Dark"

and

Carousel Organ Association of America will be hosting band 
organ and street organ grinders from across the United 
States. Many colorful music machines will be set up around 
Meridian to provide “The Happiest Music on Earth.” Tours 
will include the Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park and the 
Might Robert Morton Theater Organ at the Temple Theater.

I understand some of the instruments coming in require a 
large flatbed to transport - and as noted - these things are 
mechanical - with lots of moving parts.

And no - I'm not going to hook up a steam engine to my 
teletype... though I did consider it (for about a 
half-second <grin!>). Then again - a Cretors popcorn engine 
is just about the right size - and having played with one - 
I think powerful enough...

Links for anyone still reading -

http://glimpsesofmeridian.com the steamfest and railroad 
sections are well marked - click on any picture on the front 
page to get to a lot more of that subject.

http://mcatos.org Keeping the MIGHTY in the pipes.

http://steamfest.weebly.com/souleacute-steam-festival.html 
Carousel Organ Association's page on their plans for 
November here in Meridian.

Sorry if anyone is offended by this long - mostly off topic 
post... but I do think it's related - and directly addresses 
Lee's point. While in my (not so) humble opinion teletypes 
are just about the epitome of things "mechanical" and choose 
to spend a lot of my effort on them - other people - who 
might even really go "oh wow" over a teletype zipping along 
- might choose to spend their efforts on some other 
technology (inferior though it might be <grin!>).

just my .02 And hopefully we'll see some of you here the 
first weekend in November!!!

Oh - Almost forgot - the nationally televised show (PBS) 
"Sucarnochee Revue) will be taped at the Temple Theater 
Friday night November 4th... LOTS of GREAT 
entertainment!!!!! I'll have to check with Jacky White to 
see what he has planned for that show! (and yes - a member 
of MTOS performs the "warm up" for the show on the Temple's 
Mighty Robert Morton Theater Organ).

http://jackyjack.com/

Best regards... and y'all come!

-- 
randy guttery

A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews
so vital to the United States Silent Service:
http://tendertale.com