Village Squire, 1975-07, Page 7States' manufacturers - Edison and Columbia
- competed for the consumers' dollars.
Included in Murray's collection is a 1902
Edison phonograph plus several Columbia
machines. His 1905 Columbia gramophone
features a large horn on the top of the wooden
cabinet. In the 1910 model, the volume is
regulated by vents, which open in the front of
the case.
By 1920, all gramophones boasted single
play, spring motors and automatic shutoff.
The best phonograph in Murray's possession
is a 1925 Columbia.
The first phonograph records were formed
from wax. They were stamped on only one
side; the other side remained blank. Later two
records were pressed together to provide two
playable sides. The makers finally conceived
the idea of recording on both sides.
At this point, Murray Draper's music box
collection seems complete. Through his
hobby, one can review the history of
mechanical music from the cylinder box
through the brief popularity of the disc box to
the successful phonograph.
One can see the instruments that brought
music into private homes during the
nineteenth century and the early twentieth
century and hear the music that our ancestors
listened to. One can follow the technical
progress that led to our modern home
entertainment - radio, television and stereo.
But there's more.
"Now I'II show you the star of the show,"
Murray proudly announces. "It's a real crowd
pleased"
The star of the show is a Military Band
Organ. During the 1920s, Band Organs
supplied music for skating arenas, amuse-
ment parks and merry-go-rounds. Thousands
of Band Organs were produced by American
and European manufacturers. The Wurlitzer
Company created several models between
1906 and 1938 Model 125 was the most
popular.
Over the years, thousands of Band Organs
were destroyed; now only a few hundred
remain. Of course, they are collectors' items
and are not for sale.
A North Dakota Company recently created
a modern version of the original Band Organ.
Last year, Murray Draper purchased a
custombuilt copy of the Model 125 of 1921.
His Band Organ is one of three constructed in
1973.
The 107) organ pipes, the snare drum and
the bass drum are controlled by a pertorated
paper roll. Most rolls contain 10 'unes and
play for about 24 minutes; then they rewind
and replay automatically. Any single tune can
be repeated, and a new roll can be installed
quickly.
The organ plays original rolls, and Murray
has obtained a wide variety of tunes - waltzs
polkas and marches. Although modern hits
are available, Murray claims the arrange-
ments of the older tunes are superior.
With a flip of a switch, the music of a whole
military band emanates from one source - the
Band Organ. Murray's description of the
organ, "star of the show," is accurate. Its
pulsating beat climaxes a provocative sample
of the history of mechanical music.
"If no one saw my Band Organ or music
boxes," Murray concludes, "they would be of
little value. But if a few people enjoy seeing
Although he is very humble about his hobby, Murray probably
has one of the finest music box collections in Canada, if not North
America. He restored many of the boxes himself, and they are
now all in working condition. Murray takes small groups of
people on tours of the room.
and hearing them, my collection becomes
worthwhile." Visitors from near and far have
signed his guest book.
As a sideline to his hobby, Murray has
embarked on a musical project to mark
Clinton's centennial in 1975. He is restoring
an original Doherty organ built in the Doherty
Piano and Organ Factory in Clinton in 1890.
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The organ served in a 'local church until it
closed in 1951.
Because Murray now works at the Piano
Factory, he is especially interested in the
vintage organ. His centennial project seems
appropriate for Murray Draper is well -versed
in the history of mechanical music.
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From infants to 14 yrs.
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e2 i'( ('111 JJ 1(I St.
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Phone 271-3720
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1975, 5