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
MMD > Archives > April 2017 > 2017.04.21 > 05Prev  Next


Wurlitzer Electric Solenoid Player Piano
By Larry Broadmoore

Hi Robbie -- I have worked on two or three electronic Wurlitzer
players, and I may even have a manual somewhere.  The main problem
I recall is that the die-cut neoprene valve strip or "plate" -- which
is punched out to leave individual strips, each strip of which kept
air from passing through its tracker bar hole -- was glued onto the
inside of the tracker bar, and over time this tracker-bar sized strip
"migrated" to one side, opening all of the holes and depressurizing
the system.

It seems to me that the tracker bar holes were normally closed, but
somehow atmospheric pressure entering the perforations pushed open
these little neoprene "doors" and in so doing shorted a pair of
contacts to play the notes.  There may be another element here which
I do not recall.

Without examining one to refresh my memory that is all I recall, except
that I was able to get one instrument (without the above problem)
working fairly well, but the customer chose not to continue work on
the other.

As I remember, these were made by Baldwin Piano and Organ Co. in
Conway, Arkansas, who, after they went out of production, still sold
parts for them for some years.  Not sure, but I think they were built
under the Dale Electronics patents.

Larry Broadmoore


(Message sent Fri 21 Apr 2017, 18:51:36 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Electric, Piano, Player, Solenoid, 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