Wurlitzer

[PAT A RALPH]

Robert, like I said in my previous email, Morelock's Organ Parts and Service
in Rienzi, MS has BRAND NEW REEDS in stock and I am repeatedly ordering new
reeds for the instruments I service.

Ken Gerler

----- Original Message -----
From: robert goodale <rrg@nevada.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: Wurlitzer


> These things used to be very common in university class piano labs before
the
> digital age.  They are really quite simple.  All of the ones I have seen
are
> opened by removing the two screws on the top that hold the music rack.
the
> same screws hold the lid down.  Inside there is a miniature wood action
with
> tiny hammers that strike little tone bar/reed like thingys.  There are
some
> mic pickups and a small amplifier in front.  Not much to it.  The major
> problem with these today is that the tongues of the reed bars fatigue from
> use and break off.  Naturally there are no replacements for these so they
> have to be salvaged from other junked instruments.  I've got a mostly
> complete set of them from an old trashed wurly somewhere packed away.
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
>
>
>
> Leslie W Bartlett wrote:
>
> > I did a warranty tuning on a new Kawai today, after which, the owner
> > asked me if I'd look an an "electric Wurlitzer butterfly piano."
> > Pretty little thing!  With electric "off", it sounds like whatever
hammer
> > mechanism there is hits metal bars rather than strings.  I couldn't get
> > the top off easily to check, though I think it should slide forward.  It
> > was on very solidly, as if it were screwed in somehow.
> >
> > Does anyone know anything of these?
> > Are they tuneable?
> > Can the "hammers" be replaced or redone?
>