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MMD > Archives > July 2002 > 2002.07.17 > 05Prev  Next


Seek History of Wurlitzer Style 125 Band Organ
By Ken Vinen

I just acquired a Model 125 Wurlitzer Band Organ bearing serial number
3701.  According to the list in the Bowers' book, "Encyclopedia of
Automatic Musical Instruments", 1972 Edition, page 932, organ Number
3701 is dated to 1924.

The organ was discovered in Montreal, Quebec, in the 1960's, stored in
a building that was being demolished to make way for road improvements
for Expo.  It was then moved to another location in Drummondvilla,
Quebec, and again it sat unused in storage until I recently acquired
it.

A pedigree for my newly acquired Wurlitzer Band Organ would be super
fine to have.  Certainly a lot more fun to claim it was with a
carnival, amusement park or traveling show, than to just say it was
discovered stored in an old building!

Don Rand doesn't respond to my request for information.  Does anyone
reading this message have a copy of the Wurlitzer Sales Records and
can tell me on what date the instrument was first sold, and to whom?

Of special interest: 18 rolls of music came with the instrument.  All
were originals on the green Wurlitzer paper.  All rolls date from 1924
to 1926.  None are newer than 1926!  Was this organ only used for a few
years?

Among the collection of original rolls was one that is _not_ in Mike
Grant's Catalogue of Wurlitzer Rolls.  Fortunately, the original box
and label are intact, and they show tunes that were not released on
other roll numbers.  This newly discovered roll is now on its way to
Mike Grant for duplication to share with other organ owners.

After fifty ears, this hobby/interest still offers up pleasant
surprises!

Thank you - Ken Vinen, Stratford, Ontario, Canada.


(Message sent Wed 17 Jul 2002, 14:25:21 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  125, Band, History, Organ, Seek, Style, Wurlitzer

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