Electronic piano
Date1957 ca
Place MadeCorinth, Mississippi, United States, North America
ModelModel 120
Serial No.8296
SignedAluminum plaque mounted back side of case, lettering painted black, the model and serial numbers stamped: WURLITZER electronic piano / THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO. / CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI / MODEL 120 SER. NO. 8296 / VOLT 115 A. C. CYC. 60 AMP. 0.6 WATTS 60 / [Underwriters Laboratories “UL” mark in circle] U.S. AND FOREIGN PAT. PENDINGMarkingsBlack keys stamped with key numbers
Ink-stamped in black on speaker magnet: 583740 / P-232 625
Stamped into amp chassis: 5Y3GT 6V6GT 6V6GT 12AX7 / PIANO
One GE tube marked in white ink: 56-39 [ 39th week of 1956] / 188-20 [factory code]
Stamped on transformer: EP-613 / 831624
DescriptionThe Wurlitzer 120 was famous as the instrument used by Ray Charles early in his career and can be heard on his early recording of “What’d I Say.”
The Wurlitzer electronic piano Model 120 employs tuned steel reeds, struck with hammers, the vibrations of which are translated by electromagnetic pickups. It was designed as a portable instrument, and a small amplifier and speaker are built into the case. The case is constructed from 7-ply plywood, originally painted with a brown/taupe speckled finish, and aluminum lid painted taupe, both now in dark brown. A volume knob and ¼” jack are mounted to the left of the keyboard, and the Model 120 also was provided with a volume pedal, missing on this unit. The instrument has a full-sized keyboard with white plastic naturals and black plastic sharps. Amplifier has 5 tubes: one rectifier [5Y3], two tetrodes [6V6], beam tetrode power tube [6L6 or 5881], one triode preamp [12AX7], and two transformers. The keyboard range is slightly over five octaves, A to c4.
DimensionsWidth: 987 mm (38-7/8”)
Height: 193 mm (7-5/8”)
Length: 473 mm (18-5/8”)
Credit LineGift of David Lowther, 2012
Object number14652
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