Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2006 > 2006.07.10 > 11Prev  Next


Early Wurlitzer Pianino Has Wind Motor
By Stephen Kent Goodman

That is indeed the first generation of the Pianino; it reminds me of
an abbreviated Wurlitzer Tonophone case (study the Tonophone case and
the first generation Pianino case).  The vacuum motor was eliminated
on the next generation, and the vacuum pressure in the stack was
slightly increased to around 15 inches WC.

Those first years' music arrangements were very sparsely arranged;
I suppose, as they wanted to use more notes later to compete with the
superior North Tonawanda Pianolin arrangements, they reasoned that
they needed a more efficient and vacuum conserving system.  The early,
boxy pneumatics, among other factors, made the piano sound softer
than the later design stacks.

I don't know if the string scaling was different; some calipers and
comparisons could determine that.  I have only seen one of that
earliest vintage Pianino, owned by the late Ferrett brothers of Hemet,
California.  They kept it in their famous (or should I say "infamous")
Quonset hut on a dirt floor.  Anyone know what happened to it

Congratulations to Don for acquiring a very rare key instrument in an
historical collection of coin pianos.

Stephen Goodman

 [ In 1972 Frederick and Charles Ferrett, known as "the Ferrett
 [ Brothers," moved their huge, eclectic collection to their
 [ Music Barn on De Anza Drive, San Jacinto, Calif.  Ref.:
 [ http://www.press-enterprise.com/newsarchive/1998/09/06/905059253.html
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Mon 10 Jul 2006, 18:00:48 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Early, Has, Motor, Pianino, Wind, Wurlitzer

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: 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 1995-2024 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

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page