Wurlitzer vs. Baldwin ???
Andrew
I have one more question to ask. Is Wurlitzer a Baldwin or Baldwin a
Wurlitzer ?
Is Wurlitzer a good piano. I have heard that the Baldwins made better
quality piano in the 30's through 50's compared to the 60's through 80's.
Would that also hold true for the Wurlitzer ? Would you say that they are
built well overall ?
I came across a 1953 Wurlitzer, I believe it is a spinet.
I was told that it has been in the garage since last Thanksgiving. It was
definitely off tune when I tried playing it today. Other than that all of
the keys worked well and the hammers and dampers did not look too bad.
The owner bought it from his mom who bought it new long time ago. What
would be a good price range for it ? Would you help me figure it out ?
Thank you, always... This site is always wonderful to read and has always
been a great help to me.
Have a wonderful day... Hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Andrew Yun
yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu
++++++++++++++
ChEeRs !!!
++++++++++++++
O'Gatolan
<Pine.SOL.3.95.102013...@pecos.ncsa.uiuc.edu>,
Andrew <yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote:
> I came across a 1953 Wurlitzer, I believe it is a spinet.
Ouch, you said the "S" word! It's a spi - oops, don't mention it! Some
people might bite!
Just kidding. This group is great!
> I was told that it has been in the garage since last Thanksgiving. It was
> definitely off tune when I tried playing it today. Other than that all of
> the keys worked well and the hammers and dampers did not look too bad.
> The owner bought it from his mom who bought it new long time ago. What
> would be a good price range for it ? Would you help me figure it out ?
I bought my ca. 1946 Wurlitzer Spinet, which [I was told] hadn't been
played for quite a while, is quite in tune, a few keys don't work very
well (but they are really a few), hammers look good, dampers less so.
Belonged to a family since forever, all the kids-now-adults learned on
it. The family appeared to have treated it well. It was well located. It
includes a bench which required trivial fixing.
I paid $275. They threw in a box full of sheet music, ~100 pieces.
Then I spent a couple of hours disassembling its trivial parts,
cleaning, removing extraneous objects from inside it (hey Angela, you
can come pick up your old ruler if you're reading this), fixing a metal
piece which had been assembled upside down for some obscure reason,
replaced a broken part (a stopper for the keyboard cover), etc.
After reassembling, it sounds MUCH better than initially. I succeeded in
correcting all the buzzing sounds. I'm not claiming it sounds sweet, but
it's an excellent starting point.
Gary Rimar
"Andrew" <yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.95.102013...@pecos.ncsa.uiuc.edu...
pianoguy
The fact that it's sitting in the garage tells you what the owner thinks of
it.
The smart thing would be to have an independent tuner/tech to do an onsite
evaluation before you consider buying it. Even if you got it for free, the
repairs, tuning and moving could be quite expensive.
Assuming that you found a Wurlitzer and a Baldwin from the era you mention
(early 50s) in exactly the same condition the Baldwin would be the better
piano but not by a large margin. And, at that time they were both major
manufacturers.
--
pianoguy
return email disabled
"Andrew" <yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.95.102013...@pecos.ncsa.uiuc.edu...
Rumbachick
I really don't know about the Wurlitzer vs Baldwin issue (I'd need to look
it up in Larry Fine's book, but it's at home). But really, why are you
still considering buying a spinet? If you have no more than a one year time
horizon for this (cough) instrument, then it might be barely acceptible.
Well, not really. You would be so much better advised to spend another
$500.00 if at all possible. Then you will have an instrument that your son
can probably play for two to three years before a replacement is necessary.
This is assuming that he or your other children retain their interest in
lessons. I'm sorry to say it, but unless you have absolutely no alternative
because of monetary issues, the idea of buying a spinet should not waste
more than 5 seconds of your time.
Respectfully and hoping you make a better choice.
"Andrew" <yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.95.102013...@pecos.ncsa.uiuc.edu...
Bruce
A good spinet at the right price can make sense in some situations.
The only way I would consider this piano if it was A) dirt cheap and
B)my tech gave it a clean bill of health and C) you don't demand more
of the piano than it was engineered to give.
Greg Marino
Wurlitzer! I have in my possession a 1954 Wurlitzer Spinet that holds great
sentimental value to me. It was my grandfather's piano AND the piano that
got me started playing. I have many fond memories of my grandfather and
recall them often as I pass by his piano in my living room.
My grandfather passed away 11 years ago. 5 years ago I asked my grandmother
(who was in an assisted living home by then) if I could have the piano for
my new home. She had a tear in her eye when she said yes. My grandmother
passed away last Easter Sunday and left an inheritance which I decided to
use to purchase a new grand piano to turn into a family heirloom in memory
of my grandfather. That piano was just delivered 3 days ago. I have cried
everytime I sat down to play it as I think of all the memories my
grandparents left me and think about my own son and the stories I can tell
him about his great grandfather and great grandmother.
And I hope that some day my son will take this piano into his home and
preserve it as an important part of our family's history and tradition.
I know most of you will not get to this point in this post. I was being
sentimental. But I love my grandfather and everything he imparted onto me
and into me - if musical ability is hereditary. I do and will continue to
miss him and my grandmother - MomMom and PopPop. I will always have the
memories of my time with them. And I know that even when I'm 80, I will cry
when I sit down to play this piano and think of the man who really did
create the music in me.
I love you PopPop and I miss you!!
The Wurlitzer Spinet probably isn't worth much in terms of money, but most
times, the memories found inside are priceless!
--
Greg Marino
========================
Favorite Quote:
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day!"
"Andrew" <yu...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.SOL.3.95.102013...@pecos.ncsa.uiuc.edu...
Dave Andrews
have reposted in case anybody missed it. Nice post, Greg. Proof once again
that some of the nicest folks are here on RMMP.
===============================================
--
Greg Marino >>
--
With All Due Respect,
Dave Andrews
D. W. Andrews Associates
Church Music System Specialists
"Two Hacks Working Out Of A Garage"
Disclaimer: If there are two ways to take my words,
always assume I was after the cheap laugh.
pianoguy
> Greg Marino wrote the most poignant without being maudlin post of
> 2002, which I have reposted in case anybody missed it. Nice post,
> Greg. Proof once again that some of the nicest folks are here on RMMP.
I agree whole heartedly Dave...it rings a few bells in my own life.
Very nice post Greg :o)
And...BTW, unlike many techs...I like the old Baldwins and Wurlitzers from
the 50s.
Radu Focshaner
>
> I know most of you will not get to this point in this post. I was being
> sentimental.
Well... I did get to that point in your post and I'm sentimental too. I
would have done the same thing with the piano.