biography
pronunciation:
[werlitser]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1831–1914)
|
| biography:
| Musical instrument maker, born in Schöneck, E Germany. He emigrated to the USA (1853) and continued the family business of manufacturing musical instruments. He founded a factory in Cincinnati producing band instruments for military use (1861), adding a branch in Chicago (1865). The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company was formed (1890), and he served as president (1890–1912) and chairman (1912–14). Three sons, Howard Eugene (1871–1928), Rudolph Henry (1873–1948), and Farny Reginald (1883–1972), successively held these posts, during which time the company expanded in the field of automatic and coin-operated instruments, notably the famous ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ theatre organ. |
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