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

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > November 2005 > 2005.11.06 > 02Prev  Next


Tuning a Wurlitzer Band Organ
By Bruce Pier

The Gebrueder Bruder 107 that was under my care for nearly a quarter
of a century was comfortable with the "A" at 444 Hz.  Having been built
in 1914, one would normally assume that it was tuned to A=440.  However,
any attempt to bring the pitch down was an exercise in futility.

They were built and scaled to what the builders found worked for them.
Study the pipe work closely, as it will reveal what the pitch is.
Several builders tuned their instruments a full minor third higher than
what the scale said.  This was particularly confusing when it came to,
of all things, Wurlitzer 157's, many of which appear to have been built
with Gavioli pipe work.

In essence, band organ builders didn't use concert pitch; they use
whatever it [the organ] happened to be at the time.

Bruce R. Pier


(Message sent Mon 7 Nov 2005, 02:00:41 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Band, Organ, Tuning, 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