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MMD > Archives > January 2008 > 2008.01.01 > 05Prev  Next


MIDI Control for Wurlitzer 150 Organ
By Vic Searle

First of all I wish to wish all MMDers a most Happy New Year.  To start
the new season, I am seeking help on my Style 150 electronic organ.

In my active years before I was wrecked in an accident, I built 4 or 5
125s, a 150, and several 165s.  The only one remaining in my possession
is a 150 which has been playing since 1984 in our university's student
lounge.  Now the building is being demolished and a new one built, and
there is no room for the organ.  As I live now in a nursing home, it is
impossible to bring it here.

So far I have been able to sell the roll frame, pneumatic stack,
magnetic driven bells, and the percussion beaters.  I still have the
lovely cherry wood cabinet and the drums.

The organ was all electronic, using Devtronix analog tone generators.
I still have all this, and I would very much like to wire these to some
kind of MIDI device which could play music from scanned 150 rolls if
they are available.

The organ specs are

Bass:    Bourdon 16', Tuba 16'
Accomp.: Stopped Flute 8', Violin 8'
Melody:  Gedeckt 8', Violin 8' and 4', Piccolo 2',
         Bells (actual bars and beaters)
Counter-Melody: Trumpet 8' and 4'
Bass Drum, Snare Drum & Cymbal (all actual instruments)

What I think I would need would be a MIDI driver with a 15 VDC output
for the generators and percussion magnets.  I'd also need some kind of
playing media to run the MIDI.

I was thinking of making a case with the bass drum in the middle, the
snare and cymbal on either side, and bells in front.  The speakers
would be mounted in the ceiling of the case pointing upwards.  This
would make a very compact instrument which I could place in the
dayroom of the nursing home, where the complete 150 would be too big.

I will be most grateful for any ideas some of you gurus have.  Are
Wurlitzer Style 150 rolls scanned, and what media would play them?
Is this a feasible project, or should I send the stuff to the landfill?
Thanks in advance for any brainstorms you might have.

Cheers,
Vic Searle in Tokyo


(Message sent Tue 1 Jan 2008, 10:21:35 GMT, from time zone GMT+0900.)

Key Words in Subject:  150, Control, MIDI, Organ, Wurlitzer

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