"Pre-A"-era [1962-Jan 1963]
*two reedbars, adjustable treble strikeline
*120-style reeds from F-21 up, and short flimsy reed screws (era 3)
*Knobs/pots on lids in portables
*long damper arms
*11 damperless treble notes
*4 ohm speaker | 140
*Portable
*Solid State ("140" amp) w battery pack
**Vibrato produced by varistors
*6" x 8" 4 ohm speaker
*two reedbars, adjustable treble strikeline
*120-style reeds from F-21 up, and short flimsy reed screws (era 3)
*Knobs/pots on lid
*long damper arms
*11 damperless treble notes
Serial #s: 25001-26227 | 145
Unlike 140:
*145/720 Tube Amp
(no battery pack option)
Otherwise, like 140.
Serial #s: 30001-30893 | 720
Unlike portables:
*Furniture console
*Longer keys w lead weights at back
*Veneer shims under keybed (instead of card stock paper)
*Knobs/pots on cheek block
*Electronic Soft Pedal
*Amp is in base of console; as upper compartments are smaller to accommodate keys
*Pilot Light near pedal
*12" 4 ohm speaker
Like 145:
*145/720 Tube Amp
(no battery pack option) Reeds, action are otherwise identical to parallel 140 and 145.
Serial #s: 40001-40425 | 930
93W amp. "Tone Cabinet."
940
Battery Pack for 140. |
A-era [early 1963-late 1964]
As above, but:
*200-style (era 4) reeds and matching pickups
*only 5 damperless treble notes
*5 "reed plates" introduced below top octave
*era 3 reed screws continue, but with defective/brittle washers from November '63-on
| 140A
As above, but:
*200-style (era 4) reeds and matching pickups
*only 5 damperless treble notes
*5 "reed plates" introduced below top octave
*era 3 reed screws continue, but with defective/brittle washers from November '63-on
*slightly-revised "140" amp (perhaps to compensate EQ for changes in reed tonality)
Serial #s: 26228-27500 | 145A
Unlike 140A:
*145/720 Tube Amp, slightly revised (for reed EQ?)
(no battery pack option)
Otherwise, like 140A.
Serial #s: 30894-32084 | 720A (early)
As with 720 above, but:
*Lead weights eventually discontinued in keys
Like 145A:
*145/720 Tube Amp, slightly revised (for reed EQ?)
(no battery pack option)
Reeds, action are otherwise identical to parallel 140A and 145A.
Serial #s: 40426-41105 | 930
93W amp. "Tone Cabinet."
940
Battery Pack for 140A. |
Early B-Era [late 1964-late 1965]
As above, except:
*knobs/pots on cheek block (after brief transition)
*"pseudo cloth" lid texture discontinued from portables.
*good reed screws (washers gradually thicker, in stages, eventually as found on later 200 series)
*short damper arms (after brief transition)
*Reinforced damper mechanism
*redesigned amp in solid state model; battery pack option phased out after short duration
| 140B (early)
As above, except:
*Redesigned solid-state "140B" amp, some early ones w battery pack. **Octocoupler Vibrato.
*6" x 8" 8 ohm speaker
Also, parallel to other instruments in this era:
*Knobs/pots on cheek block (usually)
*"pseudo cloth" lid texture discontinued.
*good reed screws (improved in stages, eventually as found on later 200 series)
*short damper arms (usually)
*Reinforced damper mechanism
Serial #s:27501-30000 (or so) | 145B
Unlike 140B:
*145/720 Tube Amp, as before.
*6" x 8" 4 ohm speaker
*Unexplained huge horizontal screw between amp and speaker compartments.
Otherwise, improvements are parallel to 140B's, to wit:
*Knobs/pots on cheek block (always)
*"pseudo cloth" lid texture discontinued (presumed always).
*good reed screws (improved in stages, eventually as found on later 200 series)
*short damper arms (usually)
*Reinforced damper mechanism
Serial #s: 32108-33563 | 720A (late)
As above, except:
*good reed screws (as found on parallel 140B and 145B, and later 200 series)
*short damper arms
*Reinforced damper mechanism
Serial #s: 41421-41747 | 930B
93W amp. "Tone Cabinet."
940
Battery Pack for 140B. (only compatible with early instruments) |
Later B-Era [1966-early 1968]
As above, but:
*Tube amp models discontinued/replaced
*Adjustable reedbar disappears by 1967. | 140B (later)
As above, but all "140B" amps have no battery packs.
*Adjustable reedbar disappears by 1967.
*Serial numbers pick up from discontinued 1965 145B allotment
Serial #s: 33626-35001, then 35900-38598 | discontinued | 720B
As with late 720A, except:
*140B Solid State Amp
*6" x 8" 8 ohm speaker
*Pilot light and headphone jack relocated to cheek block
Serial #s: 42001-42702 | 930B
93W amp. "Tone Cabinet."
|
Classroom Instruments
of Later B-Era [1966-early 1968] | 146B, aka 146
*a 140B with classroom monitor switches, plugs on back to connect to 23 other classroom instruments, and no vibrato knob control/pot.
*There is also a teacher's "140B" with similar switches and lack of vibrato, but no connecting terminals on back.
Serial #s: 35101-35624 (146B) Serial #:s 46001-46874 (rebranded 146, no B) | n/a | 726B
*a 720B with classroom monitor switches, plugs on back to connect to 23 other classroom instruments, and no vibrato knob control/pot.
Serial #s: 45001-45767 | 830 Electronic Communication Center (for "Wurlitzer Music Laboratory"). Sits on top of teacher's 140B, allows monitoring of up to 24 student instruments (4 banks of 6). |
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