Philipps / Wurlitzer Orchestrions

Wurlitzer Style 16 Mandolin PianOrchestra
Philipps Chassis/Wurlitzer Case

Original Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Original Catalogue Specifications:

• Wurlitzer #19,652 stamped on piano pinblock.
• Philipps Chassis Nr. 4,994.
• Revolver Mechanism (roll changer) Nr. 960.
• Unit chassis with separate wrap-around case (with integral floor) format.
• Standard 6 station, friction drive revolver mechanism (roll changer).
• Round belt/chain & sprocket reduction for feeder (pump) crankshaft.
• Pneumatic lock and cancel controls.
• Uses Wurlitzer Mandolin PianOrchestra or Philipps Pianella Mandolinen (P.M.) rolls.
• Tracker Scale: Pianella Mandolinen (P.M.)
• Height: 8 ft. 8 in.; without globes: 7 ft. 10 in.
  Width: 5 ft. 10 1/2 in.
  Depth: 2 ft. 11 in.
  Shipping weight: 1,600 lbs.

61 Note Musical Scale:

• Piano (Wurlitzer 56-note), with Mandolin attachment
• 42 Violin and Violoncello Pipes (30 wood violins + 12 wood Violoncellos)
• Xylophone, 30 bars (reiterating action)
• Chimes, 13 bars (orchestra bells)
• Snare drum (reiterating action)
• Bass drum, with cymbal
• Kettle drum (tympani effect using two beaters)
• Triangle (reiterating action)
• Tambourine (reiterating action)
• Castanets (reiterating action)

Notes:

• The piano bass is strung with two unison strings, with a third string an octave lower, for a total of three strings for each bass note.

Chronological History:

Circa 1912/14
Chassis manufactured by J.D. Philipps & Sons, Bockenheim, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.

Circa 1913
Chassis imported by Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, New York.

All electricals added by Wurlitzer. External, wrap-around furniture case, with integral floor, manufactured by Wurlitzer.

1913
Shipping Ledger: R. Wurlitzer Co., Minnesota., June 16, 1913.

1913
Shanghai Cafe, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Shanghai Cafe was a Chinese restaurant, which reportedly had live canaries flying about the dining area.

Circa 19??
Osborne Klavestad collection, Stagecoach Stop, Shakopee, Minnesota.

Osborne Klavestad was a full fledged Medical Doctor. Upon graduating from medical school he went to New York City to practice. After about two weeks he decided that being a Doctor was not for him, eventually settling in Shakopee, Minnesota, and opening a tourist attraction, the Stagecoach Stop. When he purchased the PianOrchestra is unknown, but the instrument was restored circa 1970 by Oswald Wurdeman.

Mr. Wurdeman once remarked to David Bowers, circa 1965, in regards to an inquiry regarding any PianOrchestras that he might know of, that he had once made a tool tray out of one of the front doors of a style 16 PianOrchestra. Apparently, by sawing around the "channel" in the front door, he was able to fashion a convenient tool tray.

Circa 1981-82
Bowers collection, Hew Hampshire.

The instrument was restored for the Bowers collection by Tim Westman, New Hampshire. Restoration was completed in September of 1983, and the PianOrchestra was delivered to the Bowers collection soon thereafter. The two missing original lighted art-glass domes located on either side of the top of the case were replaced.

1989
Sanfilippo collection, Illinois.

In 1989 the Wurlitzer Style 16 Mandolin PianOrchestra became part of the extensive Sanfilippo collection. It is unknown how much additional restoration work might have been accomplished while the PianOrchestra has been in the Sanfilippo collection.

Credits:

Information provided by Art Reblitz, Dave Bowers, Tim Westman and Terry Hathaway.

Photographs:

Circa 1912 Wurlitzer catalogue; Tim Westman and Dana Johnson.

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