@Mike H Mottler posted:Perhaps Lionel will some day re-make this accessory with a CD player as the source of music; better yet, a recordable chip.
Easy to do, actually. I've had a Lionel Bandstand (inop, of course) and plan to replicate the following...
When I built the HO layout for our LHS, it featured a classic octagonal bandstand in a park setting, central to the 4x8 layout. I mounted an 8ohm speaker beneath the bandstand, and a small coax jack on the layout side panel (facing the staff area behind the counters.) I acquired (at the time...maybe 15+ years ago) a small, portable CD player with a port for remote speaker. I then fabricated a cable with male jacks at each end to connect the two. (3-terminal for the CD end, 2-terminal for the bandstand end.)
Then, as the seasons/holidays would change...or just to liven the place up on a slow day!...we'd play appropriate CD's.
The bandstand featured a bunch of HO folks in band uniform playing various...mostly brass...instruments. Ergo, we'd try to focus on band music...especially from the 1930-40's big bands, Canadian Brass, et al.
One of our favorite plays at Christmas, though, was the 'Alvin' (the chipmunk) seasonal CD's. The chipmunks sounded just like a bunch of HO people! Folks always gave a smile while listening.
Sooooo.... Find yourself an inexpensive...yet reliable...(?)...CD player with auxiliary speaker port, put a decent speaker in the L Bandstand, make a cable w/jacks, and have fun year-round!
FWIW...
KD
