Wurlitzer Style 160
Photo by MARVIN ZEIGLER
This month we feature a beautiful Wurlitzer Style 160 Band Organ. The
organ is located at the Joyland Amusement Park in Wichita, Kansas.
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The organ is located near the park entrance across from the carousel.
Known as the Mammoth Military Band Organ or the Wurlitzer Style 160, it
was the largest of Wurlitzers early band organs. Over the years the
organ has undergone modifications, some of which include the removal of
the brass pipework, case modifications and conversion to play the style
165 music roll. It originally was a 122 key organ.
The organ was purchased by the Ottaway family in 1947 for their new
Joyland Park which opened in 1949. The organ had been part of the Brown
estate in Coffyville, Kansas. In the 1920s, the organ was located on the
top floor of the Brown mansion where it was used to provide music for
skating and dancing. By 1947, the brass pipework had been removed and the
organ converted to play the 165 music roll.
An interesting feature of the organ is addition of an animated clown
figure known as Joyland Louie. He sits at the front of the organ and his
random movements appear to be playing the organ. The organ has come to be
known as Joyland Louie.
The music scale for this organ when manufactured was:
- 13 Trombone notes
- 16 Bass notes
- 13 Accompaniment notes
- 30 Melody notes
- 18 Piccolo notes
- 27 Trumpet notes
- Bass drum, tympani, snare drum and cymbal
The organ sold for $5500 in 1912 when new.......a princely sum in those
days I would imagine.
HISTORICAL INFO COURTESY OF WURLITZER BAND ORGAN MUSIC ROLL EXPERT AND
HISTORIAN, MATT CAULFIELD.
Would you like your band organ featured here? It's easy! Just contact Dr. Bill Black for information on how to submit your photos!
