Seeking info on a Wurlitzer labeled Viscount C200

[NE Shepherd]

Hello, this is my first post. I have gotten so much help from reading this forum the last few months! I play the organ for a church with an older Rodgers 750B. My practice instrument at home is an older Baldwin which does not have an AGO pedalboard. I would like to find a practice organ with an AGO pedalboard. It would be a bonus if it were Midi capable. There is a free organ advertised about 7 hours from me. The label on the front of the organ is Wurlitzer; the metal plate says model C.200 with a serial number of 089945. Am I correct in thinking that this is a Viscount? I can't find the specs, does it have an AGO pedalboard? Any suggestions for things to be aware of? Thanks for any hep you can give! Renae

[Larrytow]

Hi Renae,

Welcome to the forum ( as a poster anyhow ). I'm sorry I can't help with the ID of that organ, as I do not have much experience with those brands. Someone who does will be along to help you though.

This applies to not only you, but for anyone who comes here looking for a practice organ : PLEASE put a location in your profile listing ! There are many folks on this forum that have available organs that may fit your needs. They are not always listed as, or in the For Sale area. Even though one has to travel at times to get the right organ, there are limits to how far one will go. So a general idea of where you are located is good.

[NE Shepherd]

Thanks Larry! I am sorry, I didn't think to post my location. I am in northeast/north central Kansas. Renae

[Larrytow]

Thanks Renae, I figure you become a regular poster soon enough, so you might want to go into your profile page here and add that location to your info. That way it will show up under your name on each post you make. Like mine for example says " Central Wisconsin ".

[jbird604]

Is there a pic of that C200? This was almost surely built by Viscount during the "Church Organ Systems" era when they marketed in the US under the Baldwin and Wurlitzer names. Seeing a pic might help ID the model. One of our members has some experience with selling and servicing these and might chime in with some detailed info.

In general, these organs are "ok" but not terribly exciting. A little shy on features and sturdiness, compared to the premium brands like Rodgers and Allen. That may not matter a lot, for a home practice organ. If the C200 has an AGO pedalboard, it is automatically better for your practicing, and it is likely to have a stoplist more like the Rodgers at your church than a non-AGO older Baldwin would.

[myorgan]

NE Shepherd,

Welcome to the Forum! I hope you continue to participate here for some time to come.

Kansas City often has used AGO organs available there, but there is at least one dealership there who tends to have most of those available, or at least broker the sales. I'm not sure how far you're willing to go, but I'd personally hold out for one of the more well-known brands of organ (i.e. Allen, Rodgers, and perhaps even Johannus, Viscount, etc.).

While I don't personally know much about the Wurlitzer organ you're referencing, the price is right! That said, however, you might end up with a white elephant that you can't get rid of. Of course, that can be true of any organ. Your due diligence will help you there.

Again, welcome, and keep us posted on your eventual purchase, and what you think of the organ you end up with.

Michael

P.S. I just discovered John and I were posting at the same time. His advice is good to heed.

[NE Shepherd]

Thank you John for that information. I have attached the only photo I have of the Wurlitzer. When I enlarged it and looked at the end of the pedalboard, I don't think it can be an AGO pedalboard.

[NE Shepherd]

Thank you as well Michael. I am only about 2.5 hours from Kansas City and maybe 7 hours to St. Louis. I could travel to either location. I do think a better brand would be the wiser choice, I am just excited to be able to practice at home with an AGO pedalboard. I enjoyed playing very much in my youth, but due to a hand injury, 30 years passed where I was unable to play. I still cannot press the keys on a piano, but I am once again able to handle the lighter touch on an organ. It has truly been a joy to play our church organ for the last 3 years! Would you mind sharing the name of the dealer in Kansas City where I might watch for used organs?

Thanks so very much! Renae

[jbird604]

Michael and I often operate in near-synchrony like that! You know, great minds run on parallel tracks... What he says is true and good as well. There are surely advantages to owning a premium brand such as Allen or Rodgers, as the chances of getting it serviced should it develop problems are greater. But if the C200 is free, and if you can get it moved for not much money, and if it is in near-perfect working order, then you have little to lose. Worst case, you might have to get rid of it if troubles develop, and that could be a little hard to do.

But I do know of many Church Organ Systems models that are perking right along, having needed little or no repair in all these years. There is one where my mother in law goes to church, a really low-end model in fact, possibly one of the "A" series (quite stripped down compared to the "C" series). I have played it several times and find it quite enjoyable. Though the hardware seems somewhat flimsy compared to premium consoles, Viscount had a great sound engine even back then, and the sounds are surprisingly pleasant and authentic.

NOTE -- I just now refreshed the page and see your photo. True, that isn't an AGO pedalboard, so that may be a deal-breaker for you, especially if you are wanting to practice advanced pedaling techniques. It actually looks somewhat like the organ at my mother in law's church, which I know sounds quite nice. It also has a short pedalboard (27 notes, I think), but I don't find it bothersome, as the pedal keys are in fact regular size, just not concave. You'll have to be the judge.

If it gives you a few years of service, then it will have paid for the cost of moving it. By then you may be able to find a nice premium organ to take its place. They seem to be getting more available all the time, as churches give them away (for all the wrong reasons!) and as dedicated organists pass away with no one wanting to inherit grandpa's big organ.

[arie v]

Hi,

This is an odd instrument. I found a brochure that mentions the Wurlitzer C-200. It was no doubt built by Viscount, and was sold at the same time as the first generation Viscount digital organs.

Not only does this organ have a 27 note pedalboard, it also has 56 note keyboards. Also no pistons, so no presets or capture. The brochure makes no mention of MIDI or digital sampling tone generation.

My hunch is this organ is a low end analog organ, that dates back to the mid to late 80s.

Not something I would recommend.

AV

[jbird604]

Uh-oh! Arie's comment jogged my memory, and I'm going with him. The C200 was indeed an old analog, and a very cheap one. Not at all related to the digital Viscount organs, but based on a peculiar platform that Baldwin/Wurlitzer imported in the 80's as a cheap alternative to their US built low end analogs. Very flimsy construction, cheap keys, tabs reversed from the normal position, thin sound. I say pass on this one and look for a good Allen or Rodgers from the 80's, which are often offered for not much money.

[John Vanderlee]

I had the opportunity to work on one of those in Vermont. To me the build quality felt closer to cardboard. A very thin sound, minimal sound system, but they wanted it fixed because someone had "donated" it to the church. Turned out to be a burned out bulb on the swell pedal.

[John Vanderlee]

As a theatre organ lover, I thought the name was an insult to Wurlitzer. But that is strictly my own opinion! :emotion-40:

[NE Shepherd]

Thanks so much to all of you! I appreciate the information and I am not pursuing that organ! I do have a possibility for another. If it materializes, I will start a new post.