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This web site is a collection of information
devoted to Canada's PREMIER family of showmen known as;
CANADA'S CONKLIN SHOWS
and their involvement with
Automated Musical Instruments with The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
1970-2023
******************************************************
This web site is a collection of information
devoted to Canada's PREMIER family of showmen known as;
CANADA'S CONKLIN SHOWS
and their involvement with
Automated Musical Instruments with The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Co.
1970-2023
******************************************************
James W "Patty" CONKLIN 1892-1970 Ron Schmuck Nickelodeon Co. with Jim CONKLIN 1968 approx. 2020
Very Sad news today March 22 2023,
Passing of
Mr. Jim Conklin
Passing of
Mr. Jim Conklin
James CONKLIN Follow story
Text SizeJames Conklin died March 22. He grew up at home in Brantford, at Ridley College in St. Catharines, and on a private rail car with his parents, Patty and Edith, as they travelled across Canada with their carnival, Conklin and Garrett Shows.
Jim attended McGill University before joining his father in the company. He married the beautiful Norma and they had three children, Patricia, Frank and Melissa. While they called Brantford home, they travelled extensively, enjoyed skiing at Blue Mountain and relaxed at their cabin in Collingwood. Of course, the children learned the amusement business from 'the ground up."
Jim brought his imagination, creativity and vision to both his company, Conklin Shows and the amusement business in general.
Jim took the "reins" of Conklin Shows in 1970 and revolutionized the industry. The amusement business is time consuming but, when at all possible, Jim enjoyed many diverse interests. He loved to fish, curl, play and attend tennis events. Rarely without a book, he was a keen reader and liked to share opinions on books and authors.
But above all else, he adored his Westies, of which he had 2 or 3 at any one time. After retiring, which really never happened, he became an avid cook, and spent much time collecting, cooking and developing recipes (most very spicy).
Jim influenced many lives, and was an inspiration to countless careers. He was interested in what was going on and mentored all to think outside the box. Fortunately he lived independently until the end. He spent his last years actively curating both personal and industry associate's memorabilia to create a North American vintage carnival museum.
Jim's "last call" will be at the Canadian National Exhibition, Withrow Common Gallery, Saturday May 6, 2023 from 3 to 5 pm.
For those that would like to make a donation, please go to Ontario SPCA website and click on yellow donate button to make a gift in memory of Jim Conklin
To plant a tree in memory of James Conklin, please visit Tribute Store.
Published on March 31, 2023
Text SizeJames Conklin died March 22. He grew up at home in Brantford, at Ridley College in St. Catharines, and on a private rail car with his parents, Patty and Edith, as they travelled across Canada with their carnival, Conklin and Garrett Shows.
Jim attended McGill University before joining his father in the company. He married the beautiful Norma and they had three children, Patricia, Frank and Melissa. While they called Brantford home, they travelled extensively, enjoyed skiing at Blue Mountain and relaxed at their cabin in Collingwood. Of course, the children learned the amusement business from 'the ground up."
Jim brought his imagination, creativity and vision to both his company, Conklin Shows and the amusement business in general.
Jim took the "reins" of Conklin Shows in 1970 and revolutionized the industry. The amusement business is time consuming but, when at all possible, Jim enjoyed many diverse interests. He loved to fish, curl, play and attend tennis events. Rarely without a book, he was a keen reader and liked to share opinions on books and authors.
But above all else, he adored his Westies, of which he had 2 or 3 at any one time. After retiring, which really never happened, he became an avid cook, and spent much time collecting, cooking and developing recipes (most very spicy).
Jim influenced many lives, and was an inspiration to countless careers. He was interested in what was going on and mentored all to think outside the box. Fortunately he lived independently until the end. He spent his last years actively curating both personal and industry associate's memorabilia to create a North American vintage carnival museum.
Jim's "last call" will be at the Canadian National Exhibition, Withrow Common Gallery, Saturday May 6, 2023 from 3 to 5 pm.
For those that would like to make a donation, please go to Ontario SPCA website and click on yellow donate button to make a gift in memory of Jim Conklin
To plant a tree in memory of James Conklin, please visit Tribute Store.
Published on March 31, 2023
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Please click on the various pages below; To learn more of the exciting history
of ......The ONE, the ONLY, Canada's CONKLIN SHOWS.
**About Conklin Shows by Rob Connelly**
***********
*** Life and times of Patty Conklin and Conklin shows
**https://www.docsmidwaycookhouse.com/carnivals/the-life-and-times-of-patty-conklin-the-conklin-
***The Conklin Year's Conklin Shows Photo Archive by Rob Connelly
**** YouTube video is an excellent Historical item complete with wriien history and video
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CONKLIN'S FAMOUS TRAVELING CONCERT ORGAN
Step right up to hear the largest travelling concert organ in the world,
This wonderful instrument will astound and delight you,
Bought to you without heed to the death-defying cost of more then $40,000.00 by the CONKLIN family.
This magnificent one-of-a-kind instrument was lovingly constructed
by Herr Karl Frei, Master builder of musical marvels from the fabled
Black Forest of Germany. There's magic on the midway .
(Above taken from LP Record jacket of the Concert organ sold in the 1960's)
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CONKLIN'S FAMOUS TRAVELING CONCERT ORGAN
Step right up to hear the largest travelling concert organ in the world,
This wonderful instrument will astound and delight you,
Bought to you without heed to the death-defying cost of more then $40,000.00 by the CONKLIN family.
This magnificent one-of-a-kind instrument was lovingly constructed
by Herr Karl Frei, Master builder of musical marvels from the fabled
Black Forest of Germany. There's magic on the midway .
(Above taken from LP Record jacket of the Concert organ sold in the 1960's)
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The wonderful Conklin shows "Karl Frei 112 key, "Traveling Concert Organ" is now returned to
"The Seewen Museum of Musical Automations, Switzerland"
by Martin Conrads
Nov. 2022 after a full restoration
https://www.musikautomaten.ch/mma/en/home.html
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"The Seewen Museum of Musical Automations, Switzerland"
by Martin Conrads
Nov. 2022 after a full restoration
https://www.musikautomaten.ch/mma/en/home.html
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The Zierer - Conklin "Carl Frei" Concert Organ
By Mr Fred Dahlinger
Visitors to the Conklin's Shows midway in the 1970's were privileged to hear one of the largest mechanical organs ever to grace a North American showground.
This magnificent instrument represented some of the finest in fabled Black Forest craftsmanship. Listeners heard an extensive repertoire of tunes that fully utilized the tonal resources of the mechanical masterpiece.
Carl Frei, Sr. (1884 - 1967) was a legendary show organ craftsman. Coming out of the heart of the German show organ industry at Waldkirch, at the edge of the Black Forest, Frei went on to join the great firm of Gavioli & Cie, in Paris There he received special training in the arranging of music from a member of the Gavioli family. Frei eventually established his own shop, where he earned a reputation for his skills at arranging music and voicing pipework. He continued his business in Belgium and later Holland, returning to Waldkirch after the second world war.
Frei and his son, Carl, Jr, (1912 - 1997) fabricated and rebuilt a number of large organs from the late 1940's to the 1960's, One of those was and 89 keyless scale instrument for the Munich showman Max Zierer, delivered about 1949, He placed it beside the Tripolis Autodrom, a Dodgem car ride.
With a rebuild mandated after years of service, the organ was returned to Waldkirch for an expansion by Carl Frei, Jr. The scale of the instrument was expanded to 112 keyless, making it one of the largest Fair Organ on the continent, To conceal the added pipework and percussion, the facade was expanded to an incredible 32 feet wide. It was billed as the largest traveling concert organ in the world.
An unusual and unique feature of the Heinrich Mack-constructed caravan housing of the instrument was a "Dancing Waters" type device that was pulled out from the wagon belly. It added to the eleven, hand carved and animated wooden moving figures of couples dancing, Ringing Bells and a stern conductor in the center. and more then 500 incandescent light bulbs to bring the façade to life
Leading North American showmen journeyed annually to Munich Oktoberfest, to see and buy the latest thrill rides. It was there that Patty Conklin saw the great organ, sometime after the 1968 debut, and eventually decided to acquire it. Following importation to Canada for the 1970 season. The instrument was placed in the Bavarian Gardens at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition. The Frei concert organ subsequently made one visit to the United States, being exhibited at the 50th anniversary of the Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield, Massachusetts in 1971.
The organ was offered for sale by Jimmy Conklin in 1981 and went into the hands of Swiss dealer of Automated Musical instruments, Hans-Peter Kyburz, later passing into the collection of Dr. h.c. Henrich Weiss-Stauffacher. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Carl Frei, Sr. the instrument made a special appearance at the 1984 organ festival in Waldkirch Germany. Dr Weiss-Stauffacher established a comprehensive museum for mechanical musical instruments in Seween, Switzerland, Das Museum fur Musikautomaten, which is where the organ can be seen and heard today.
At the museum.in Seween the Conklin organ is installed in the foyer where it is played several times each day. It has been removed from the continental trailer into which it was placed in 1968 and is presented on a special stage.
A number of collectible items issued during the Conklin ownership can still be found, A color postcard is the piece most commonly available, A special LP record, on the Conko label, "Conklin's Famous Traveling Concert Organ" is seldom seen in today's resale markets. A cassette of music "Die Grosste Fahrbare Lonzertorgel der Welt" was issued during the Kyburz ownership. A second LP may also have been issued, of which a single copy may exist in the U.S.A Fred Dahlinger
.....................................................................................................................................
By Mr Fred Dahlinger
Visitors to the Conklin's Shows midway in the 1970's were privileged to hear one of the largest mechanical organs ever to grace a North American showground.
This magnificent instrument represented some of the finest in fabled Black Forest craftsmanship. Listeners heard an extensive repertoire of tunes that fully utilized the tonal resources of the mechanical masterpiece.
Carl Frei, Sr. (1884 - 1967) was a legendary show organ craftsman. Coming out of the heart of the German show organ industry at Waldkirch, at the edge of the Black Forest, Frei went on to join the great firm of Gavioli & Cie, in Paris There he received special training in the arranging of music from a member of the Gavioli family. Frei eventually established his own shop, where he earned a reputation for his skills at arranging music and voicing pipework. He continued his business in Belgium and later Holland, returning to Waldkirch after the second world war.
Frei and his son, Carl, Jr, (1912 - 1997) fabricated and rebuilt a number of large organs from the late 1940's to the 1960's, One of those was and 89 keyless scale instrument for the Munich showman Max Zierer, delivered about 1949, He placed it beside the Tripolis Autodrom, a Dodgem car ride.
With a rebuild mandated after years of service, the organ was returned to Waldkirch for an expansion by Carl Frei, Jr. The scale of the instrument was expanded to 112 keyless, making it one of the largest Fair Organ on the continent, To conceal the added pipework and percussion, the facade was expanded to an incredible 32 feet wide. It was billed as the largest traveling concert organ in the world.
An unusual and unique feature of the Heinrich Mack-constructed caravan housing of the instrument was a "Dancing Waters" type device that was pulled out from the wagon belly. It added to the eleven, hand carved and animated wooden moving figures of couples dancing, Ringing Bells and a stern conductor in the center. and more then 500 incandescent light bulbs to bring the façade to life
Leading North American showmen journeyed annually to Munich Oktoberfest, to see and buy the latest thrill rides. It was there that Patty Conklin saw the great organ, sometime after the 1968 debut, and eventually decided to acquire it. Following importation to Canada for the 1970 season. The instrument was placed in the Bavarian Gardens at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition. The Frei concert organ subsequently made one visit to the United States, being exhibited at the 50th anniversary of the Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield, Massachusetts in 1971.
The organ was offered for sale by Jimmy Conklin in 1981 and went into the hands of Swiss dealer of Automated Musical instruments, Hans-Peter Kyburz, later passing into the collection of Dr. h.c. Henrich Weiss-Stauffacher. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Carl Frei, Sr. the instrument made a special appearance at the 1984 organ festival in Waldkirch Germany. Dr Weiss-Stauffacher established a comprehensive museum for mechanical musical instruments in Seween, Switzerland, Das Museum fur Musikautomaten, which is where the organ can be seen and heard today.
At the museum.in Seween the Conklin organ is installed in the foyer where it is played several times each day. It has been removed from the continental trailer into which it was placed in 1968 and is presented on a special stage.
A number of collectible items issued during the Conklin ownership can still be found, A color postcard is the piece most commonly available, A special LP record, on the Conko label, "Conklin's Famous Traveling Concert Organ" is seldom seen in today's resale markets. A cassette of music "Die Grosste Fahrbare Lonzertorgel der Welt" was issued during the Kyburz ownership. A second LP may also have been issued, of which a single copy may exist in the U.S.A Fred Dahlinger
.....................................................................................................................................
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Conklin Shows Carl Frei 112 Keyless
TRAVELING CONCERT ORGAN
at Springfield Mass, USA.1971
by," Thomas E McCarthy" Feb 23 1972 for "The Keyframe Magazine" UK
Special thanks to Fred Dahlinger
Conklin Shows Carl Frei 112 Keyless
TRAVELING CONCERT ORGAN
at Springfield Mass, USA.1971
by," Thomas E McCarthy" Feb 23 1972 for "The Keyframe Magazine" UK
Special thanks to Fred Dahlinger
The Great Canadian Nickelodeon Had the pleasure of maintaining this organ as well as many other for Canada's Conklin Shows which included full restorations
Before this instrument was offered for sale in 1980 it was move to one of our shops at London Ontario from Conklins head office in Brantford Ontario for a complete go-over to be sure it was operating 100% before being offered for sale. Below are a few pictures of the instrument being loaded for export to Switzerland etc.
Time has unfortunately made some pictures weak
Before this instrument was offered for sale in 1980 it was move to one of our shops at London Ontario from Conklins head office in Brantford Ontario for a complete go-over to be sure it was operating 100% before being offered for sale. Below are a few pictures of the instrument being loaded for export to Switzerland etc.
Time has unfortunately made some pictures weak
James Wesley PATTY CONKLIN "Showman Exceptional" 1892-1970
..................................LOTS MORE TO SEE BELOW................................................
..................................LOTS MORE TO SEE BELOW................................................
MORE GREAT FAIRGROUND ORGANS NICKELODEON CO.
RESTORED FOR CANADAS CONKLIN SHOWS 1980'S
RESTORED FOR CANADAS CONKLIN SHOWS 1980'S
