Jinks has the answer....

Jester Jinks popping in to announce the correct answer to today's trivia question:

c. 3 years

Check back tomorrow to see where Jinks is hiding out at the American Treasure Tour.

Treasure Low Down ~ Gorilla

TREASURE LOW DOWN WEDNESDAY

You never know what you are going to see when you go around a corner at The American Treasure Tour.  Here is one of our gorilla's ready to bid you adieu!  

Gorilla Trivia:  How old are baby gorilla's when they are weaned?
a. 6 months
b. 2 years
c. 3 years
d. 5 years

*answer later today....

GOOD ADVICE ~ AN REAL TREASURE

The American Treasure Tour has a vast collection of treasures.

Good advise is a treasure and today's quote comes from 

Abraham Lincoln.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Abraham Lincoln

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_lincoln_6.html#

Thank you to Brainy Quote for that cherished tidbit from Abraham Lincoln.  

image from:  http://ritratti.wordpress.com/tag/abraham-lincoln/

James Dean

Photographs of film stars at American Treasure Tour include the iconic James Dean.  The photograph below is from our collection.

How does  someone only active in the film industry from 1951-1955 become a legend?  What was it about James Dean that was so special?

Being a good actor isn't easy. Being a man is even harder. I want to be both before I'm done.
James Dean
Read more athttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_dean.html#8Cacmj54TCTbRTFE.99

Well, it's officially the summer of 2012 ~ Here's an oldie but goodie to enjoy.  At the American Treasure Tour we display hundreds of albums in our Nickelodeon Room, many of which bring back great memories!

It's in the Details: Wonderball Treasure Low Down

   Makers of incredible music machines in the early 20th century went the extra mile. They automated machines to create the sound of entire orchestras before the invention of the phillips head screwdriver. But they didn't stop there. These machines mechanizing the playing of multiple instruments didn't turn out looking like an 8th grade science experiment either. They were housed in finely crafted and hand wrought housings to make the machine a delight for the ears and the eyes as well. 

       Above is a proud peacock sitting atop one of our Wurlitzer brand Nickelodeons.  The lights in the peacock's tail are called a Wonderball, essentially a dome of colored lights which turn when the music is played.
      If we consider that this machine was made in the early days of electricity, and before something as simple as the phillips head screw was used for production, this innovating use of lighting is a mind-boggling detail on a machine with a sound so beautiful that it is a world class attraction already!

Athletes who Overcome

Two paraplegic athletes from Minnesota named Josh and Scott are going to be featured in an inspiring video aired during this year's summer Olympics. The Minnesota School of Business has teamed up with the make a hero foundation to create videos to bolster awareness of everyday heroes according to an article on northlandsnewscenter.com.  

hand-cycling and sailing are just two of the sports mentioned here, but the make a hero foundation raises money for hero/athletes who have over-come the obstacles to pursue their sport of choice from skiing to rock climbing. The site promotes teaching adaptive athletics to those with disabilities to fulfill their need for fitness, adventure, speed, and confidence. 

Hats off to Josh and Scott, Real American Treasures, and the make a hero foundation for doing really good things in the world!

Thank you to http://www.alegoo.com/ for the fathers day image directly above and below.

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."

~Clarence Budington Kelland

"A child needs a grandparent, anybodies grandparent, to  grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world."

~Charles and Ann Morse

MOVIE POSTERS at American Treasure Tour

At American Treasure Tour we house LOTS of treasures for groups to see.  

There are many American Treasures ~ take movies for instance.  What is your favorite American made movie of all time?   

OR, What is your favorite movie quote of all time?
Come and see our display of movie posters.

~thank you to www.hark.com for the movie reel image~

Trivia Question ~ Answer

Good Morning ~ The answer to yesterday's trivia question is:  
a.  Woodrow Wilson


The year of President Wilson's Flag Day proclamation was 1916.  Interestingly, Flag Day is not an official national holiday.   In 1937 Pennsylvania became the first and only state to celebrate Flag Day as an official state holiday.

Today's Quote:
I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it's marked by the blood of those who died defending it.
John Thune
Read more athttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/flag.html#43SWhLpP0GCqAFU1.99

Happy Flag Day America

Happy Flag Day

One of hundreds of dolls at our attraction.  This one always proudly holds an American Flag.  

Which President by proclamation established 

June 14th as flag day?

a.  Woodrow Wilson

b.  Thomas Jefferson

c.  James Polk

d.  William McKinley 

answer in tomorrow's post 

Steampunk Magical Violins

It looks like something out of a steampunk sci fi movie. All moving mechanical parts come to life to play incredible music from both of these violins at once! But this is no sci fi prop. This machine not only works, but it was made to play this music before music was so easily accessible. Think about it. Before machines like this, the only way to hear music was to learn to play an instrument or find some talented friends! 

This rare machine was made by the Mills company in Chicago in the early 1900's, and the sound is so amazing, you could swear you were being serenaded by live musicians if you couldn't see the machine playing. See it with your own eyes at the American Treasure Tour!

Louisa May Alcott ...

Today's Quote:
"A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure." Louisa May Alcott

Speaking of treasures, here is another from our HUMONGOUS collection:

A beautiful nickelodeon with metal work and art glass.

When you visit the American Treasure Tour ~ you get to hear actual

Nickelodeons playing not recordings...another fact that 

makes our attraction special.

Real American Treasure: Gabe The Military Dog

Gabe the military dog served in 210 combat patrols in Iraq beginning in 2006. His job was saving lives by sniffing out weapons and munitions. He is also known for boosting moral just by showing up to visit. Gabe retired from active duty in 2009, and is now adopted by his former handler Sgt. Charles Shuck who was with him through all of his work in Iraq where he made at least 26 finds.

Here is is Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/VoteGabe2012

The band organ rally wraps up today at Knoebels Park in Elysburg, PA.  "The General", our Wurlitzer band organ was a big hit.   Weather has been great, the music a real crowd pleaser.  Knoebels Park could not have been a better host.  

What a day!  Our "General" band organ at Knoebel's Park in Elysburg, Pennsylvania was making great music today.  We were there attending a band organ rally and met Mikey Mills from Cold Spring, Kentucky.   He is a band organ enthusiast who will be visiting the American Treasure Tour next week.

WHAT IS A BAND ORGAN?

Today our band organ, "The General" is on its way to Elysburg, PA to Knoebel's Park for a band organ rally.   What is a band organ?  Good question:

Web definitions

• A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions. ...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_organ

• (Mainly American usage). Loudly-voiced self-contained automatic pipe organ designed for skating rink, carousel, or outdoor amusement use. Models with brass trumpets, trombones, and piccolos are sometimes called military band organs. * Synonyms: fair organ, fairground organ, carousel organ.

www.mbsi.org/glossary.php

• Band Organs provide the special music associated with carousels. They are a self-playing pipe organ using a pinned cylinder, punched cardboard, or perforated paper rolls to play the notes. They often had drums, cymbals and glockenspeil bars as well as many organ pipes. ...

www.carouselmuseum.com/language.html

Stay tuned for photos of our band organ on tomorrow's blog posting.

Thank you to Wikipedia, Music Box Society International, and the Carousel Museum for their answers.

    Whatta tail light!  

This is off of the 1931 Franklin we just obtained at 

the American Treasure Tour.

ONE of these in the back of the car, not two.  

Red lens is for the brake light, yellow lens is the running light and the white lens is for reverse. 

We have a huge collection of classic automobiles, band organs, nickelodeons, model airplanes, antique store animation, movie posters, music boxes, dolls, doll houses, circus and carnival items, holiday and patriotic themes as well.  

Stacks in the racks and piles in the isles!   

Eclectic and FUN...make a reservation for your group soon.

Say hi to Jinks ~ he lives at the American Treasure Tour.

Thursdays are "I spy" Jester Jinks on Facebook, check it out.

The hood ornament featured yesterday belongs to this 1931 Franklin.  It is a seven passenger car with an air cooled engine.  A new addition to the American Treasure Tour Collection.

The car is now in our warehouse awaiting it's inspection by our mechanics.  It is a beautiful automobile!

Does anyone know what type of car matches this hood ornament?  We just obtained this car at The American Treasure Tour.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our web site ~ We'll answer the question and show the entire car very soon!   It's always a great day at the American Treasure Tour ~ Hope you have a great one too.

It was a great day at the American Treasure Tour,

We had The Pennsylvania Retired Superintendents Group from eastern Pennsylvania with us for a delightful time.

After the tour of our 100,000 square foot facility, they ate a delicious buffet lunch in our

private dining area.  Menu?

Baked Chicken and Grilled Salmon

Roasted Potatoes

Green Beans Almondine

Baked Ziti

Rolls & Butter

Cherry Pie and Chocolate Cake

Brenda & Friends Tours from Lancaster County Pennsylvania

 was one of our tour groups today that enjoyed a morning tour 

and a hot buffet luncheon at The American Treasure Tour.

They rode in style in a beautiful Elite Coach from Ephrata, PA.

A great time was had by all.

EMT 's REAL American Treasures

The American Treasure Tour salutes emergency vehicle operators and first responders.  Weather in our region tonight wet and wild with tornadoes and tornado watchers.  The men and women who go out in that weather are real American Treasures.