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MMD > Archives > September 2003 > 2003.09.19 > 06Prev  Next


Scale of Wurlitzer Caliola
By Mike Knudsen

Many thanks to the several readers, too numerous to list, who have
responded to my query for Caliola scale info, both privately and
via MMD postings [MMDigest 030910].  (But I will give special mention
to Robbie, who was especially helpful).

My reason for asking is to make Caliola arrangements, not
(unfortunately) to get an instrument working.

I enjoyed the various explanations of the "oddball" hole spacing.
And to answer my own question (though Robbie answered it), yes, the
lowest pipe is just F below Middle C.  I got a close look and listen
to the unique "Duplex" Caliola at the DeBence Museum in Franklin, PA.

While it has a lot of extra pipes (mostly reeds) added on to make a
full-size band organ, half buried in its guts are the large-scale open
wood pipes of a Caliola.  And the longest one, mitred back on itself,
looked to be about the 3 foot length of F below Middle C.  The
instrument plays APP rolls like a plain Caliola.

By the way, you don't want to be too close to this machine when it's
playing -- it's definitely built for the great outdoors!

Thanks again to all -- Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Fri 19 Sep 2003, 03:46:49 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Caliola, Scale, Wurlitzer

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