Wurlitzer, also referred to as the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company was an American instrument company that was sold a variety of instruments, most notably pianos. The company was founded in 1853 by the German immigrant Rudolph Wurlitzer in Cincinnati, Ohio. Wurlitzer originally imported a variety of stringed, brass, and woodwind instruments from Germany to be sold in the United Sates. Those initial imports proved to be a success for Rudolph as eventually in 1880 the company began producing quality pianos. The company would then relocate to New York and expanded its instrument line to include orchestral instruments, pipe and theater organs, and orchestrions. The company experienced continued growth, and the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company would go on and expand into a variety of different industries as they acquired other companies.
As the times began to change and technology progressed, Wurlitzer began producing some of the first electronic pianos and organs. They would eventually move into producing jukeboxes and vending machines. The company then began to focus more on jukeboxes and vending machines and moved the production of those to Germany in 1973 when they sold that division. Their piano division would go on to be purchased by a variety of companies like the Baldwin Company and the Gibson Guitar Corporation. They started to phase out their pianos and in 2009 they stopped producing pianos all together. So given that fact, it is impossible to purchase a new Wurlitzer piano, however there are many listings for great pianos currently on sale on eBay. We are going to take a look at some of the most expensive Wurlitzer pianos that are currently up for sale.
The Vintage Wurlitzer 140B Electric Piano – $5,299
The first piano on our list is an electric piano that was produced by the company. These electric pianos were some of the first that the company ever produced, and some of the first electric pianos ever made. The 140B was part of their “portable” line of electric pianos and were first produced back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. This piano has been fully refurbished by Ken Rich Sound Services and is in amazing condition. The piano is pretty basic and weighs 82 pounds. It comes with one sustain pedal as well and has a built in amplifier. For those looking for a historic electric piano, look no further.
The Tuscon Art Case Wurlitzer Piano – $5,900
The next piano is currently listed from Sonny’s Piano Store based out of Long Island, New York. This baby grand piano is somewhat rarer than others at it was produced from the era where the company focused on slightly more “artistic” pianos with elegant styling. This piano is modeled after those coming from Tuscany and the Mediterranean area of Italy. The piano has a brand new finish, new white key tops, and new bass strings, and it still plays as great as ever.
The Wurlitzer 5’1″ Baby Grand Piano – $5,999
Next up we have a newer Wurlitzer piano that was produced recently under the time that Baldwin took over operations for the company. This baby grand piano is noticeably used (few dings/ scratches here and there), however it is in great shape. The piano is made from Mahogany and features a player system that is made by Baldwin. When this piano first came out it costed around $14,000 dollars. The piano comes with a 5 year parts and labor warranty, which is definitely a good deal. It is a baby grand piano and has 88 keys.
The Wurlitzer C143 Baby Grand Piano – $9,500
Next up we have a beautiful white baby grand piano. The C143 pianos were some of the companies more popular pianos that were made recently. These pianos were also produced under the Baldwin years. The piano is used but in great collection and it features 88 keys and 3 pedals.
The Wurlitzer Grand Piano Model C173-HPE – $11,000
Next up we have a more modern Wurlitzer grand piano. The piano measures out to be 5’8″ inches and features a high-gloss Ebony finish to it. The piano can also play itself and comes with a PDS-128 piano player unit and nine player disks that feature a variety of different music. The piano was originally purchased in 1999 and has been kept in great condition.
The 1912 Wurlitzer Nickelodeon – $19,850
Finally the most expensive Wurlitzer piano on eBay is this nickelodeon that dates back to 1912. These pianos were found in many parlors and bars all over America and were what inevitably lead the company to produce their popular jukeboxes. This piano has a accordion, drums, a Glockenspiel, a triangle, a woodblock, a tambourine, and a cymbal all packed inside. This piano can be played, or play itself and at the time, was considered a luxury instrument. The piano is made from oak and has been refurbished over the years. Check out this video of it to see this historical beauty in action.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
