DeKleist and Wurlitzer
By Robbie Rhodes
Marty, in your note in Digest 960724, you say you are seeking DeKleist brass pipes for restoration of the Wurlitzer "Mammoth".
1. What is this instrument? Is it the Wurlitzer Style 180? Matthew
Caulfield has shared much information with me, but I don't recall
this model. What's the history of the instrument?
2. In the event new brass trombones must be made, I'll be happy to put
you in contact with Mr. Rob Stewart, who is acknowledged as the
finest brass instrument maker on the West Coast. He will know the
skilled guys in your region. Stewart, for fun, makes replicas of
antique brass horns; his Keyed Trumpet is absolutely beautiful (if
you can visualize an archaic straight soprano saxophone with a
trumpet mouthpiece.) I mention him because I imagine that not many
folks have fabricated giant brass pipes, and the instrument artisans
could offer basic advice on forming, etc. Many of them, of course,
are in Elkhart, Indiana.
3. Somewhere I heard a cassette tape playing familiar W165 music on a
*really good* instrument, and I was told the recording was from a
very early surviving DeKleist organ. It wasn't clear if the
DeKleist had been converted for W165 music rolls, or if it was an
original Style 165 organ made by DeKleist for Wurlitzer. I'd love
to buy the available recordings of this particular machine. Can you
tell me who produced this recording? It sounds as good, if not
better, than my treasured cassette of the "Ross Davis" W165 organ at
Griffith Park in 1983 at Griffith Park, with tunes selected by Don
Rand.
Betcha can't guess the origin of the name of my village, Etiwanda. ... Well, I betcha can, too -- You get 1 guess! Hint: it's an Indian name, all right, but not a California Indian!
Best wishes, Robbie Rhodes
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(Message sent Sat 27 Jul 1996, 03:58:58 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.) |
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