Wurlitzer never produced a set of stacked tracker frames in standard
production.  The possibility exists that there could have been some
custom designs, especially due to the fact that Wurlitzer modified so
many organs to play their rolls over the years.  I imagine that just
about anything could have been done in those cases, however I have
never seen anything other than the side-by-side layout in any
instrument.

The side-by-side design was produced with little modification starting
around WW1 until the end of production in the 1930's.  I believe the
Wurlitzer Duplex spool frame design to be a Wurlitzer original, there
not being any other mechanical musical instruments that I know of using
a similar device with the exception of large North Tonawanda band
organs.  The stacked Artizan system was loosely based on the Wurlitzer,
however being a later product.  I am not aware of any patent
infringements on duplex spool frame systems between companies.

Perhaps there are Bruder organs which have side-by-side or stacked
spool frames playing original Bruder music?  I don't know or I can't
think of one right off, however Wurlitzer based most of their organs on
Bruder designs, so the possibility is there.  In the beginning days of
the 165 organ, Wurlitzer purchased "Elite Apollo Orchestras" from
Bruder sans book systems, fitted them here with the Wurlitzer Duplex
spool frames and re-named them Wurlitzer 165 Duplex Orchestral Organ.
Some of the existing Wurlitzer 165 organs are actually retrofitted
Bruders.  Eventually, the Wurlitzer 165 was produced completely in the
Wurlitzer factory.

Wurlitzer had a similar arrangement with Phillips, in which early
Wurlitzer PianOrchestras are actually Phillips instruments.  The
difference being that the Phillips Pianella Mandoline roll layout was
kept identical for the Wurlitzer PianOrchestra roll.  Wurlitzer did not
need to retrofit roll mechanisms into these imported instruments which
were shipped to the USA complete.  As with the band organs, Wurlitzer
soon made all the PianOrchestras in their own factory as well.

Also, isn't there a big 165-like Bruder on a carousel at Coney Island
(at least there was a big organ there about 15 years ago) playing from
stacked duplex frames in a box mounted on the side?  If I recall, I
think it was a set of Artizan frames, but I could be mistaken.  Anyone
know what this organ is? I haven't been back there since then.

John D. Rutoskey

 [ Thanks for the fine report, John.  -- Robbie