Wurlitzer Mandolin and Concert PianOrchestra,
and Wurlitzer Paganini Rolls

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Tapered roll leader (for single roll mechanism) with label for (Regular) PianOrchestra roll #115. The tune titles (hard to read due to the very faded purple ink) are: 1. Fra Diavolo - Overture; 2. Farewell - German Song; 3. Hipp, Hipp, Hurrah - Navy March.

All early Wurlitzer Regular PianOrchestras utilized a single roll player mechanism. Automatic roll changers were introduced circa 1904 and could be had at extra cost, but after a few years they became more or less standard equipment installed in the Wurlitzer Mandolin and Concert PianOrchestras. This red paper roll was cut by Philipps (in Germany) and shipped to Wurlitzer, at the time headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Notice that the musical selections are hand-typed onto a generic pre-printed "The PianOrchestra" label. It was not until the Mandolin PianOrchestra and Concert PianOrchestras were imported, beginning circa 1905, that the term "Regular" was applied to the earliest style PianOrchestras. The Style 17 PianOrchestra, also a Regular PianOrchestra, was sold into later years, and so the Regular PianOrchestra roll was re-designated a Style 17 PianOrchestra roll. 

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Concert PianOrchestra blue ink label for roll #415. The "R.C" rubber stamped at the upper right (only part of the "R" is showing here, signifies that this roll is for use with an automatic roll changer.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Concert PianOrchestra black ink label for roll #9554. This single tune "Length of Five Piece Roll" was probably intended for photoplayer use. Although it is not known as a fact, it may be that all 9,000 series Concert PianOrchestra rolls were arranged with large photoplayers in mind.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Early Wurlitzer Mandolin PianOrchestra blue ink label for roll #269. The "R.C." rubber stamped in the upper right hand corner signifies that this roll is for use on an automatic roll changer.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Mandolin PianOrchestra blue ink label for roll #1076. Note the date, "June 1922," printed at the top right corner. Wurlitzer rolls are rarely dated as such.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Mandolin PianOrchestra purple ink label for roll #1087.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Paganini black ink label for roll #347. This music roll was listed in the Wurlitzer Music Roll Bulletin of August, 1922.