Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY 8, 1926
The Music Trade Review
North Tonawanda Plant of the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Co. a Model of Arrangement
Landscaping of Ground Around Immense Factory Has Made It One of the Sights of That Sec-
tion of the Country—Interior Planning and Equipment Last Step in Modernness
N. Y., May 1.—The manufac-
B UFFALO,
turing plant of the Rudolph Wurlitzer
Co., located at North Tonawanda on the Buf-
falo and Niagara Falls Boulevard, has come
An extensive line of pianos and players is
manufactured, the styles ranging from the small
studio model pianos and players to the stand-
ard size instruments. The attractive designs
General View of the Wurlitzer Plant
to be regarded as one of the show places of of the various styles are peculiar to the Wur-
this vicinity and many motorists en route to litzer method of construction where the ulti-
and from the Falls stop off to admire the hand-
some grounds and buildings and also observe
the processes of manufacture.
The main entrance faces the boulevard and is
reached by a fine parkway drive extending
directly to the main entrance doors. The drive-
way pavement is of macadam with dustproof
tarvia top. Through the center is a broad walk,
bordered by lawns and beautiful flower beds.
The drive is illuminated at night by eight orna-
mental lights of antique design. On either side
of the drive are fine lawns, with hedges of ever-
greens and groups of flowering shrubs. The
drive opens upon a circular court in front of
-the main entrance doors, which contains two
pools constructed of litholite. Fountains play
continuously here, the water running into a
great ornamental connecting basin between
them. At either side of the court paved drive-
ways lead to extreme ends of the plant, while
along the front and surrounding the court ever-
greens and flowering shrubs and plants, with
the wide, finely kept lawns and wonderful shade
trees, complete the beautiful layout of the fac-
tory grounds.
The manufacturing plant consists of twenty-
. five buildings; covering fifteen acres. The manu-
Main Tower and Entrance
facturing floor space is over 400,000 square feet, mate aim is the very best that can be produced
and nearly 1,000 employes make Wurlitzer musi- in each line.
cal instruments. The buildings are of fireproof
Player actions and pumps with which the
construction, the rooms being light and airy,
with every convenience supplied for the com-
fort and welfare of the employes.
The machinery is all electrically driven and
the equipment consists of the latest and best
designed for each purpose. The machines are
arranged so that the material passes from one
to the other in their proper sequence, eliminat-
ing extra handling and obtaining a high degree
of efficiency.
Although the major part of the factory is
devoted to wood-working and assembling, it
has an ample machine shop, toolroom and
nickeling department where all the metal work
for the various mechanical devices is made. The
facilities for handling, storing and kiln-drying
lumber, together with its most up-to-date wood-
working machinery, have earned for the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Mfg. Co. the reputation of having
Detail View of
one of the best piano and organ mills in the
business. In general, it may be said that the player instruments are equipped are made com-
factory is characterized throughout by modern plete at the Wurlitzer factory. A new depar-
ture in metal player actions is being intro-
buildings, good light and cleanliness.
duced by the Wurlitzer Co. in the Wurlitzer
metal player action. The principal feature of
this is an all-metal valve chest, the entire eighty-
eight valves in the Wurlitzer metal action being
housed in twenty-two die-cast metal units.
These are removable from the front by merely
loosening three screws which hold each unit to
the assembly plate. Each simple, compact unit
contains a group of four notes, entirely acces-
sible from the front of the action and readily
interchangeable.
The Wurlitzer Co. is also introducing the
"Uniplate" piano and player. This system elim-
inates the wooden back and tuning-pin block,
a specially constructed piano plate answering
all purposes. The depth of the piano case can
be reduced and the "Uniplate" adds to the ap-
pearance of the back of the instrument. Wur-
litzer pianos and players with the "Uniplate"
are now on the market. A line of automatic
instruments for public installations is also manu-
factured, as well as a complete line of band
organs for public amusement places. The unit
organ, for church, theatre and the home is also
built at this plant. These vary in size from the
style required for the average church or small
theatre to the magnificent installations for the
large cathedrals, auditoriums and theatres.
In addition to its manufacturing interests, the
Wurlitzer Co. owns over 400 acres of land in
its plant's vicinity and is developing this acre-
age as a model section of the city. Unlike most
real estate developments, homes are not built
for speculative purposes, and no lots arc sold
for speculative purposes. When an employe
wishes to build, the company finances him if he
so desires, and he selects his own plans, which,
however, must be approved by the company and
conform to certain restrictions. The houses are
of different architectural design, each having its
individual features, and the result is a highly
desirable residence section. While the growth
of the Wurlitzer subdivision has not been of
the spectacular variety, the number of homes
built has been increasing steadily each year.
The lots sold by the company are never less
than fifty feet wide, with a sufficient depth to
accommodate a garage, garden, etc., advantages
which the usual real estate dealer does not con-
sider but which appeal very strongly to the man
who builds his own home and who takes pride
in the appearance and upkeep of his place. The
Wurlitzer section of North Tonawanda is rap-
idly becoming recognized as a most desirable
location in which to build permanently.
Concentrates on Main Store
CANTON, O., May 1.—The Alford & Fryar Piano
Co., which for many years has conducted the
piano department at the department store of the
Klein Heffelman Zollars Co., some months ago
acquired by the Ross Co., Inc., of New York, ef-
fective April 30, has discontinued its department
and in the future will confine its efforts to its
new store, 125 Fourth street, N. W. The Al-
ford & Fryar Co. opened this store some time
Main Entrance
ago in view of soon discontinuing its several
branch stores in nearby small towns and the de-
partment at the Klein Heffelman Zollars Co.