Wurlitzer Imported Philipps Paganini Rolls

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

Philipps Paganini-Geigen- Piano; P.P. No. 8149. This Philipps Paganini roll, consisting of popular music, was sold by Wurlitzer's Cincinnati Headquarters office to Frank Cash (Five Mile House proprietor), Butte, Montana, on October 14, 1913. The Five Mile House was a Wurlitzer distributor for the Butte, Montana, area.

(Photograph courtesy of Terry Hathaway)

Wurlitzer Paganini label for roll #347, listed in the Wurlitzer Music Roll Bulletin of August, 1922. This label shows the major differences between Philipps and Wurlitzer made roll labels.

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

Top center area of an early green music roll box for a Philipps Paganini roll, showing one version of an embossed Philipps logo.

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

Top center area of a late black music roll box for a Philipps Pianella Paganini roll (P.P.), showing one version of an embossed Philipps logo. The detailing and appearance of the Philipps Paganini boxes demonstrates the care and excellence put into the manufacture of the Paganini line of instruments. Wurlitzer echoed this excellence in its advertising for the Paganini line.

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

This particular Paganini roll bears the usual "P.P.Rev." rubber-stamped leader imprint that designates it as a Philipps Paganini roll, and for use with a Revolver Mechanism (roll changer). At a quick glance the green music roll paper may appear to be identical to that of a typical Wurlitzer cut green paper roll, except for spool, box, and labeling. The aged and slightly faded leader paper does mimic the appearance of the green music roll paper common on later Wurlitzer cut rolls. However, this music roll is a genuine Philipps cut roll, exhibiting the signature perforating style common to Philipps music rolls. The wire-rod roll changer leader, with riveted clete construction that securely binds the metal rod and bookbinders type cloth tightly in place, is very similar to the roll changer leader design made in the U.S. by Wurlitzer. Notice what appears to be a revenue stamp on the right-hand side of the roll leader. This roll, along with other Paganini rolls in the same collection, tend to support the idea that Wurlitzer imported Paganini rolls up until importation was cut-off in late 1914 due to the advent of World War I.

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

Wurlitzer over-the-counter cash sale invoice paid on October 14, 1913. This unnumbered invoice to Frank Cash, Butte, Montana, was issued by Wurlitzer's Cincinnati, Ohio, Headquarters office, and is for a large selection of Pianino, Automatic Harp, and Paganini rolls, which were personally received by Mr. Cash. Paganini roll #1849 is listed on this invoice, for which the Philipps label for it is shown above in the top left position.

(Photograph courtesy of Carl Jones)

Wurlitzer invoice No. 14972; Customer Order: "Personal October 14, 1913." Issued by Wurlitzer's Cincinnati, Ohio, Headquarters office, this numbered invoice is for Paganini rolls sold to Mr. Frank Cash (Five Mile House), Butte, Montana. Shipment is to be by Freight, with the Paganini rolls sent along with a Wurlitzer Automatic Harp. The date at the top of the invoice, December 2, 1913, and repeated in the body of the invoice, is the date when the Automatic Harp and the Paganini rolls were actually shipped from the North Tonawanda factory. Paganini roll #1849 is listed on this invoice, for which the Philipps label for it is shown above in the top left position.