Pianotech

  • 1.  A most unusual piano - Wurlitzer Grand Hard Top Convertible :)

    Member
    Posted 12-28-2019 10:22
    I tuned a most unusual piano recently.  It is a small grand made by Wurlitzer and it took some thought to figure out how I was going to get "under the hood" to tune it!

    There are 6 screws fastening a cover over the tuning pins and holding the music desk. 

    On the top front of the hard cover there are two metal brackets fastened with a screw into the plate that need to be released to lift the front of the cover off the piano. 

    Once those six screws are removed there are two bolts that run from the top of the cover and through the soundboard and they fasten with a wing nut assembly on the bottom of the piano! The technician has to climb under the piano to remove the bolts, then lift the lid off the top!

    I've never seen a piano like this and thought I'd pass it along the group. No doubt others have encountered similar instruments but this was a first for me!

    Somehow it reminded me of those convertible automobiles with the hard top that lifts off the car and I found myself feeling like an auto mechanic for a while : )



    Wurlitzer 1
    Wurlitzer Piano 2
    Wurlitzer 3


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    Sean Stafford
    Endicott NY
    607-239-4643
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  • 2.  RE: A most unusual piano - Wurlitzer Grand Hard Top Convertible :)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-28-2019 11:43
      |   view attached
    Cool. I'm about to tear into a 1920 Aeolian spinet that I think will require removing the keybed with keys and action attached in order to service.  I'll attach pictures once I begin the process. Never seen another like this in 40 years of piano work. 

    Gary Bruce
    Registered Piano Technician



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: A most unusual piano - Wurlitzer Grand Hard Top Convertible :)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-30-2019 13:26
    Sean-

    I worked on a similar Wurlitzer. It was a 7’, and the 'hardtop shell’ was already gone, but had the same short outer rim. Other than its oddness and age, it was a good piano. It was #245770, which seemed to be WWII era. Was that the age of your customers’ piano?

    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    Cincinnati OH Chapter


    Original Message