Ray Thomas, 1924 - 1996
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Ray Thomas, circa 1950. Ray went to work in 1949 to temporarily
help out Herbert Vincent, his father-in-law, who was having to deal
with some serious health issues. It was to be a fill-in job, but
it instead became a career that continued on for several years after
the death of Herbert Vincent, in 1966. Notice the trademark pipe
in his mouth. Ray had a collection of about fifty pipes, and he
always had one in his mouth, whether lit, or not. During one of
this author's visits to the shop Ray showed me how his teeth
were significantly worn down in the area where he held the pipe's stem. |
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Wurlitzer style 125 band organ owned by Gene Ballard (standing at
left), circa 1960s. The organ was mechanically restored by Herbert
Vincent and Ray Thomas (standing at right). The organ is situated
in front of the large loading door of the Ross Davis Merry-Go-Round
shop building.
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