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MMD > Archives > February 2000 > 2000.02.14 > 01Prev  Next


Introduction & Wurlitzer Styles 50 & 103
By Bruce Pier

This evening I was looking through the Photo Gallery of MMD and spotted
the listing for a Wurlitzer Style 50.  When the photos came up, it was
not a Style 50, but the golf cart mounted Style 103 of Ron Bopp.

The Style 103 was a fairly popular late production model, playing the
standard Style 125 music roll.  The Style 50 was also a late production
model.  Only 12 of these organs were built as compared to the 91 Style
103's.  There have been Style 50's at the Mid-Am's rally at Crossroads
Village in the past, as well as several other rallies.

I have been interested in automatic musical instruments, band organs
in particular, since I was about five.  It was nurtured by my uncle,
the late Alan Pier, who encouraged me to find out as much as possible.
He introduced me to several prominent collectors who shared their
collections and knowledge with an enthusiastic young man.

While attending college studying music I became involved in the outdoor
amusement industry.  I sloughed jennys [*] for the old Gooding Amusement
Co. and later worked for Cedar Point.  I have helped restore several
antique carousels, including the machine I have taken care of for the
last twenty years, the Broadway Flying Horses in San Diego.  I have
also worked part time for a local organ builder and have handled a
number of band organs, both European and American.  I enjoy sharing
information about these instruments.

Bruce Pier
San Diego CA

 [* I think Bruce operated the donkey ride; the female is the jenny.
 [ 'To slough' is probably related to the Dutch 'sloffen', to shuffle
 [ or to scuffle.
 [
 [ Welcome aboard MMD, Bruce, and thanks for the additional info on
 [ the small Wurlitzer organs.  I'll amend the text at the Pictures
 [ site, and I hope MMDers will send more photos of Style 103 and
 [ Style 50 organs.   -- Robbie


(Message sent Mon 14 Feb 2000, 04:02:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  103, 50, Introduction, Styles, Wurlitzer

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