The 'Mighty Wurlitzer' theatre organ was introduced in late 1910 and became Wurlitzer's most famous product. In 1909, the company began making innovative automatic harps that were more durable than European prototypes, and from 1924 to the 1930s, eight models were available. In 1909, Wurlitzer bought the entire operation, and he moved all Wurlitzer manufacturing from Ohio to New York. Wurlitzer bought an interest in DeKleist's North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Factory in 1897. Eugene DeKleist of North Tonawanda, New York, was an early builder of such organs (also called ' barrel organs') for use in carousels. As crowds grew and mechanical rides began to appear, there was a need for louder music. In 1896, Wurlitzer manufactured its first coin-operated pianos. In 1880, Wurlitzer started manufacturing its own pianos, which the company sold through its retail outlets in Chicago. military during the American Civil War and Spanish–American War. Wurlitzer was an early American defense contractor, being a major supplier of musical instruments to the U.S. The company initially imported musical instruments from the Wurlitzer family in Germany for resale in the United States. His sons Howard, Rudolph and Farny successively directed the company after his death. įranz Rudolph Wurlitzer (1831–1914), an immigrant from Schöneck, Saxony, founded the Wurlitzer Company in Cincinnati in 1853. Rembert's shop on 42nd Street in New York City was a leading international center for rare and historic string instruments. The Rembert Wurlitzer Co., Wurlitzer's rare and historic stringed instrument department, was independently directed by Rudolph Wurlitzer's grandson, Rembert Wurlitzer (1904–1963), from 1948 until his death in 1963.

The company ceased manufacturing jukeboxes in 2013, but still sells replacement parts. Vending machines are still manufactured in Germany using the Wurlitzer name under Gibson ownership. Baldwin ceased making Wurlitzer-brand pianos in 2009. Ten years later, Gibson acquired Deutsche Wurlitzer and the Wurlitzer Jukebox and Vending Electronics trademarks, briefly bringing Wurlitzer's best-known products back together under a single corporate banner in 2006. The Baldwin Co., including its Wurlitzer assets, was subsequently acquired by the Gibson Guitar Corporation in about 1996. (commonly called the Baldwin Piano Company) in 1988, and most piano manufacturing moved overseas.

manufacturing facilities were acquired by the Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. The Wurlitzer piano and organ brands and U.S. Wurlitzer's jukebox operations were sold and moved to Germany in 1973. Wurlitzer also operated a chain of retail stores where the company's products were sold.Īs technology evolved, Wurlitzer began producing electric pianos, electronic organs and jukeboxes, and it eventually became known more for jukeboxes and vending machines, which are still made by Wurlitzer, rather than for actual musical instruments. Over time, Wurlitzer acquired a number of other companies which made a variety of loosely related products, including kitchen appliances, carnival rides, player piano rolls and radios. During the 1960s, they manufactured Spinet, Console, Studio and Grand Pianos. Wurlitzer is most known for their production of entry level pianos. It quickly expanded to make band organs, orchestrions, player pianos and pipe or theatre organs popular in theatres during the days of silent movies. In 1880, the company began manufacturing pianos and eventually relocated to North Tonawanda, New York. Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success, largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the United States. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer.

Wurlitzer organ models catalog