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The Doc Wurly Blog

Posted on by SteveEspinola Posted in Wurlitzer EP Model History

I offer the knowledge I am sharing here and elsewhere as a resource to all Wurlitzer Electric Piano owners and repair people, worldwide. It’s my way of spreading some nerd love.

I love talking shop and I couldn’t stop if I tried.  But if you find these pages useful –or if I’ve given you helpful feedback or advice by email or phone– please consider honoring my time and care, and supporting my research, with a contribution. Clicking the golden “Thanks” button below will bring you to a PayPal page, where you can pick any amount you’re inspired to give.

OK! I spent too much time chatting with ya! Back to work!

08.0 Earlier 1960’s models: An overview and timeline

Posted on by SteveEspinola Posted in 1962-early 1968 EP Models, Wurlitzer EP Model History

For the next duration, I will be uploading documentation on every model of Wurlitzer Electric Piano ever produced, chronologically.  Approximately 1 page per model, around 40 instruments total.  And then the accessories.  

This will take a while, as each page is a photo essay… and an essay.  In the meantime, if the instrument you are curious about isn’t here, I refer you to my complete list, on which these blog entries are based: Here.

I’ve been stalled on completing my essays about the 140 series (aka the 140-145-720 series), which encompasses at least 11 different models, or more, depending on how you count them.

So let’s start with this grid chart, which may help us all to keep oriented, going forward.

The 140 era (including 145, 720): 1962-early 1968

Series (Columns)

Instruments by era (Rows)		140 series:
*Portable
*Solid State amp
*6" x 8" speaker		145 Series:
*Portable
*145/720 Tube Amp
*6" x 8" 4 ohm speaker		720 Console Series:
*Furniture console
*2" Longer keys
*Knobs/pots always on cheek block
*Electronic Soft Pedal
*145/720 Tube Amp until 1966		Accessories
"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		discontinued720B
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/a726B
*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).
*******************************************************************************************************************
Serial numbers listed are a combination of known data and interpolation. This data can be improved and sharpened with your input.

Notice that serial numbers are non-chronological in this era. The 140, 145 and 720 series each get parallel allotments of numbers in 1962, separated by 5000 and 10,000. In late 1965, the 140 series runs into the 1962 allotment of 145's, and leapfrogs over them as the 145B is discontinued.

The classroom instruments are solid state variants appearing in the later "B" era. They are predecessors to the better known 206 classroom system. Instead of 206's coupled to a single teacher's 207, up to 24 of the 146(B)'s or 726's are coupled to a box (Model 830) that sits on a teacher's modified 140B.

On repairing early Wurlitzer Electric Pianos

Posted on by SteveEspinola Posted in 1950's EP Models, The Work

The only way I’ve found I can truly repair a 66-year-old Wurlitzer electric piano is to think like the interacting objects in it. To think like a corroded screw, think like a weathered, beaten, steel tone-producing reed: “What am I doing, I, Mr. Old Piece of Locked-Down Vibrating Music Metal, that can be heard and felt, but not seen? Why to I prefer to do this, even though Steve wants me to do that?”

Then I can make up new things to feed the old thing, that it didn’t need when it was younger. And then it feels better, moves better, stops being so contrary and cantankerous.

When the Wurlitzer company made the Model 112 Electronic Piano in 1955 and 1956, they weren’t thinking about their future repair-people nearly enough. That came about seven years later, with the redesign of the 140/145/720 series. And even at best, there were design limitations of the 1950’s instruments that affected what can ever be achieved in smoothness of sound and feel. But with effort, experience and skill, one can still get a rough magic and charm out of these early instruments.

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