Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2001 > 2001.07.30 > 04Prev  Next


Wurlitzer Piano Could Be Disassembled for Shipment
By John A. Tuttle

Hi All,  Joyce Brite and others have made some interesting remarks
about the piano, the player piano and 'Old West Saloons'.  But one
thing Joyce said brought back a memory of an instrument I rebuilt
some 20 years ago.

It was a Wurlitzer that had no pin block.  The tuning pins were fit
directly into the plate and there were small brass wedges fit into
slits on the opposite side of the plate which secured the pins in
place.

What brings this instrument to mind was its construction.  It was most
definitely designed to be dismantled, put into crates and transported
by virtually any means to its destination.  Once there, it could be
reassembled by anyone who could follow the directions.

Of all the pianos I've even worked on, this Wurlitzer held it's tune
the best.  I went back some ten years later and the piano was still
at pitch and nearly perfectly in tune.  I was amazed.  (By the way,
it was the Wurlitzer player with the 4-in-1 pot metal valves.  I don't
clearly recall the date of manufacture, but 1910 or 1914 comes to
mind.)

Of course, I'm not suggesting that it was transported back in time to
the old west bars (duh!), but it could safely go anywhere a horse and
wagon could go.

Musically,

John A. Tuttle


(Message sent Mon 30 Jul 2001, 11:59:09 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Be, Could, Disassembled, Piano, Shipment, Wurlitzer

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   



Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2008 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                           
Pay via Amazon
Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
Please do not use
the anonymous option!
                           
Translate This Page
. .