After reading Don Teach's request, I thought I would give the MMD
readers a little background on the Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartette because
many of the MMD readers have never seen or heard one.

These instruments were built by Eugene DeKleist for Wurlitzer and date
from before 1908.  Wurlitzer sold them for $750.00.  They play a small
5-tune roll.  Due to the vintage of their production, most Mandolin
Quartette rolls feature ragtime music.

Wurlitzer in its early 1907 catalog stated, "The Mandolin Quartette,
although only on the market a few months, and a limited number of them
built, has already made a record-breaking reputation as a money maker
and entertainer.  It is especially desirable in the larger places where
a louder instrument than a piano is desired, but less expensive than a
PianOrchestra."

The Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartette has a powerful and rich sound for its
size.  It features a rotating "cog" tremolo device which when engaged
causes the called-upon ebony treble hammer to rapidly and repeatedly
strike the strings creating the mandolin sound.  This device was common
in turn-of-the-century street pianos, particularly those made in Phila-
delphia by Maserati, Capra, or Pomero.  It is also found in certain
German orchestrions such as the Hupfeld Helios.

At the present time there are seven Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartettes known
to exist, plus one empty late style cabinet.  Four of the survivors
were found in one building in Racine, Wisconsin, by pioneer collector
John Ragan.  In the 1950's Mr. Ragan found a hoard of early coin oper-
ated instruments which were route operated by Mr. C. F. Schenkenberg.
The hoard contained some wonderful early coin instruments including
Wurlitzer Harps, four Mandolin Quartettes, a Wurlitzer Tonophone or
two, Encore Banjos, and a variety of Pianolins and Wurlitzer Pianinos.

Mr. Schenkenberg later set up the National Shoe Shining Machine Company
in Milwaukee and produced a nickel-operated shoe shining machine, which
was not very successful because it would reportedly would grab the cuff
of your pants and pull your foot into the mechanism!

I have a Wurlitzer Mandolin Quartette in my collection which came from
Disneyland in California.  It was part of the Raney Collection pur-
chased by Walt Disney around 1955.  Mandolin Quartettes are really
happy-sounding small instruments.  I first heard a Mandolin Quartette
via a record called "Roadhouse Rhythm" which was issued by Hathaway and
Bowers in the 1960's.  This Mandolin Quartette, one of the Schenkenberg
hoard, is now in the Nethercutt collection.

Tim Trager
Trager@idt.net