Wurlitzer Tracker Bar Dimensions
Matthew Caulfield recently posted information about Wurlitzer
tracker bars and mentioned the Wurlitzer-style bars made by the
late Steve Lanick. That put me in mind of the day in the mid-70s
in Fremont, Ohio, that Steve was explaining the components of his
replica Wurlitzer 105 to me.
Looking over the tracker bar, I remarked that surely this must be
an original Wurlitzer factory piece that Steve had gotten hold of,
for such a perfect-in-every-way, broached-hole example could not
have been home-made. "Nope, I made it", said Steve.
I think it might have been the same day that I was marveling at
the Ruth replica that the late Ken Smith had built. "Don't go
comparing me to the classic organ builders, I'm just a machinist",
Ken told me. Likewise, Steve said something like: "Oh, I repair
clocks", when asked about his background.
These two didn't seem to use plans or blueprints. They'd pull out
a tape measure and set to work. There are many exceptional craftsmen
afoot in this field, but I don't expect to ever again encounter
wizards the likes of Ken Smith and Steve Lanick.
Bill Luca
Salem, Massachusetts
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