USAMPU


United States Army Mobile Parade Unit

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298th Army Band Mobile Parade Unit (298MPU)
United States Army Mobile Parade Unit (USAMPU)
 
298
th Army Band, Berlin, Summer 1945, 82nd Airborne Division
 
Mobile Parade Unit (MPU) consists of a replica Schwinn Trike fitted with a replica Wurlitzer Parade Pipe Organ.  The trike is Classic Americana custom painted red, white and blue.  Trike is further outfitted with military parade regalia, military panniers, 4x period flags to include US Army, Berlin Bear Crest, USA, and Germany.  The leather saddle with matching bag is Classic British Brooks.  White tires are new Duros.  The 3” leather tie down belts are also from England.  The trike is single speed with a rear pedal brake and dual front parking brakes.  Parade Pipe Organ is a replica Wurlitzer with 31 wood flutes.  There are two sources for wind supply, a hand cranked bellows, and a 12v blower.  Music controller is an updated MIDI player that uses SD card memory to hold MIDI files.  Tunes can be played custom sequenced, as selected, or continuously looped.  The organ scale is the standard 31-note as used in modern street organs.

July 4th Parade ~ Ludington, Michigan

298th Army Band Mobile Parade Unit ~ Demo

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About the builder.  Gordie Davidson is a retired Army Foreign Area Officer (FAO) having served in uniform 1970-1996.  He served with the United States Army Berlin Brigade (USAB), 1981-1984.  It was in West Berlin where he developed his interest in mechanical music.

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