Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. (North Tonawanda, New York)

The offering of this pipe organ is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Wurlitzer name is practically synonymous with the American theatre organ, which provided music venues ranging from small theatres to opulent movie palaces all across the country. The very largest was installed in the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, where it remains a treasure today.

Of the 2,234 numbered pipe organs sold by the company, this example is very special as it was made for Rudolph H. Wurlitzer, one of three sons of the company's founder, Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer. Interestingly, each son was trained in different area of the business: Howard in management, Farny in technical matters and Rudolph H. in music, so it stands to reason that Rudolph would be the one to appreciate a fine Wurlitzer organ in his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The massive hand-carved console was designed to complement the room in which it was installed, and factory records indicate that the entire job was never invoiced to its owner.

Construction began in 1922 and was completed the following year. It began as an eight-rank instrument, but by 1923, four more ranks and a style R roll player had been added. After the heyday of the theatre organ, the family donated the organ to St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Long Beach, California, where it replaced a previous organ destroyed by an earthquake. It was subsequently owned by Blaine Ricketts before finding its way into the Brown collection in Indiana and then the Milhous Collection. A restoration was conducted between 1999 and 2001 by master theatre organ craftsman Ken Crome, who augmented the organ with additional ranks of pipes and stops. A custom digital relay was made and installed by Bob Trousdale. This relay enables the organ to digitally record the playing of any organist into a computer, so the computer may play back the music on the actual organ at any later time.

The organ has its original art style three-manual console, finished beautifully in dark mahogany with gold leaf. It now controls 26 ranks, seven tuned percussion and an unusual set of tuned bird whistles! The organ remains in superb condition and has received accolades for its sound, reminiscent of the way a Wurlitzer theatre organ originally sounded in an opulent movie palace.

Size (console): 6 ft. 6 in. x 4 ft. 11 in. x 4 ft. 9 in. (Please speak with an RM representative for further information regarding the size of the pipe chests, pipes, blower and other components.)