Wurlitzer 164 Band Organ

[GermanStreetOrgan]

Nice to hear "Liberty Belle" on a giant band organ. The band organ itself reminds me of the boat in walt disney world, named "The Liberty belle" it was my favourite ride in disney world.

[anglerfly]

I have seen a replica of this organ. Look up "largest wroking american band organ" on google images.

[er10b]

Looks like the organ owner has put Uncle Sam to work ringing the triangle at the far right. I hope Uncle Sam is paid well...

[wurly164]

@er10b He keeps time with the bass drum, I ran this organ when I was a kid, now the new owner lets me come out and see it any time I like, it was rebuilt again just after this video was taken

[er10b]

@wurly164 so Uncle Sam and the bass drum probably run off the same hole on the trackerbar.

Was it interesting to run the organ?

[wurly164]

@er10b It was a blast, the owner was a real showman and I loved spending time with him as well as the organ. He had this trailer made in the 70's and had uncle sam carved to be the band master. There were only 3 of these organs made and this is the only one left.

[er10b]

@wurly164 Nice.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

I wonder what the mechanism for Uncle Sam's arm looks like?

[wurly164]

@er10b The elbow, is a hinge made out of leather, in his back there is a pivot rod, that is connected to a thick wire. This goes down to a little bellow behind his feet, it is tee'd off of the bass drum

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Uncle sam was rebuilt?!?!

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Uncle sam was rebuilt?!?!

[wurly164]

@anglerfly Yes last year, but you knew that Alex

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Yeah. But I dont remember it being rebuilt, I just remember it being painted. Is it joe hilferty who restored uncle sam?

Also, They should loosen the cymbal.

[anglerfly]

Theres the chevy truck . It could be a cheyenne, or a stepside.

[wurly164]

@anglerfly ...If you come down this summer you can see it in person, we are trying to get everyone to see the collection sometime this summer

[anglerfly]

North Tonawada Style 1100 Brass Band Organ Is simalaur

[anglerfly]

How do you know what it used to sound like before mike kitner converted it?

[wurly164]

@anglerfly I heard a tape of it taken By Torin, when he first got it.

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Then why don't they sell it? Wurlitzer157 and I want it.

[wurly164]

@anglerfly The tape of the organ when it was on caliola rolls? It will never see the light of day, If you want a cd of Sidewalks Of New your, I sell them for $15.00 This includes postage, It is a CD of the album converted to CD, the masters have been destroyed all of the tapes that were made were just home made that don't have the best sound. If you still like the record and have a way to play it, They are always on Ebay

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Does wurlitzer157 hvae it?

[anglerfly]

If you want to see vdeos of sadie mae, Look up " music for disneys parade" and a video of saide mae will come up, It will be hard.

[wurly164]

@anglerfly Thank you, Chris sent me the DVD a couple of years back.

[anglerfly]

@wurly164 Your welcome!

[gaspen100]

It used to have a sign that said "PTM" what does it mean?

[wurly164]

@gaspen100 It stood for Paul and Meryl Torin, They had the custom made trailer made and it painted in a circus fashion back in the 1970's, the paint is starting to fade now, I have 100's of pics of the organ through the years.

[anglerfly]

"liberty bell" is the song

[wurly164]

I don't believe so

[anglerfly]

HOw did paul torin get it?

[wurly164]

He purchased it from a man in TX back in 1972, the man had it in a garage with a thatch roof and was afraid it would catch fire, Paul went down with a car carrier trailer and brought it back to his home in NJ He then had it converted back to 165 rolls from the caliola rolls it was playing. Wurlitzer had switched it to caliola rolls to sell it cheaper since those rolls were cheaper than 165 rolls

[wurly164]

I go and visit it a few times a year, I ran this organ when I was a kid, when it was owned by Paul Torin, he sold it in the early 80's and the new owner bought it about 10 years ago.

[anglerfly]

IS paul torin alive? And did paul torin keep it at arnolds?

[wurly164]

He is alive and well, he splits his time between his house in NYC and Sarasota FL. We talk often and email a few times a week. He has only 4 machines left in his collection

[wurly164]

No he did not keep it at Arnolds, it was kept at his house in NJ and then in NY

[anglerfly]

Does every calliola take the same rolls not just wurliTzer?

[wurly164]

I don't know

[anglerfly]

What are the stats on this organ?

[wurly164]

@anglerfly 252 wooden pipes, 64 brass pipes, 22 bells, bass drum with a timpany drum , snare drum, cymbol, crash cymbol, triangle, wood block

[pwardste]

Does anyone have an original photo that I could put in a book I am writing? I would need a TIFF file, not JPG. My grandfather bought one of these white 164 organs in 1919 for his skating rink and I'd love a photo for my book.

[wurly164]

@pwardste was it a real 164? only 3 were made and little is known about the 2 others

[fairlawn38]

Is there any chance of a CD or DVD coming out. I still have the LP, but it's pretty worn.

[wurly164]

I do have CD's of the record, the masters were destroyed but I made a few that am going to sell on Ebay. I also have the rights to the CD's

[fairlawn38]

Please announce when and how to locate the CDs when they go up for sale. I want one. The record was great! Strangely enough, I first heard it on our local classical music FM station.

[anglerfly]

I have a photo of what it used to look like. In my book.

[dkelzenb]

Well, I wondered when the old General would show up on YouTube. It is great to hear it again! Needs tuning and some work, though. If I lived anywhere nearby, I'd work on it, then make decent recordings of all the rolls!

[musicmachinesuk]

Hi wurly164,

Is this Wurlitzer 164 yours?

I've started coming a fan of Wurlitzer band organs.

Ben

[wurly164]

I do not own it but have been involved with it for over 31 years. The organ was put into this trailer by Paul Torin and he rented it out under his company Rent A Tune, he sold it in the early 80's and it was sold again in 2001 to Don Neilson. He lets me come out and play it any time I like. It does not sound good here, the camera could not handle the volume. It is very loud and a sight to see and hear in person. Thanks for asking.

[anglerfly]

@musicmachinesuk Its don neilsons.

[wurly164]

The sound quality is not the best on the camera and yes it does need a tuning, but is is still a great machine that needs to be seen in person