Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ

[Guest]

I could use some advice. I am a novice to this forum as well as a novice to organs in general. I recently got a Wurlitzer Centura 805 with the Orbit III synthesizer. Very pretty cabinet. The Leslie rotates but does not emit any sound. I am looking for advice on how best to proceed. I have been given two donor organs. One is a Wurlitzer, but the speaker does not look like a Leslie. It is a set of speakers that spin on a shaft with a counterweight. The other is a Hammond and has a working Leslie 121. This organ is painted lime green and it does not seem to have a working volume control, (along with other non working features). Questions: Should I locate a service manual and fix the original Leslie? It is a two speed and the Hammond donor is only one speed. </p>

The foot pedals on the donor Wurlitzer work but don't appear to be an easy dismantle and plug in to the Centura, so should I find a perfect match?</p>

I have an extremely small budget to work with as I intend to donate the completed organ to a disabled individual whom I think would enjoy this organ for a pass time. Any advice is apprecaited.
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[bluetantra]

Re: Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ



I wouldn't think the problem with your Centura is major, if I understand correctly that all else is working properly. It could be as simple as a switching issue or as complicated as an amplifier issue. A service manual from Morelock's Organ Service would be a good starting point; they're the only ones who sell Wurlitzer manuals, aside from odd one on eBay occasionally. My organ instructor has a Centura at home. It's difficult to tell you about the pedal clavier with out knowing a little more about the donor Wurlitzer, but I think most 25-note Wurlitzer pedal claviers are probably interchangeable. Photos of the organs in question would help also. The rotating speaker that doesn't look like a Leslie is actually a Wurlitzer Spectratone, and no, they don't sound the same.</P>


I'm guessing since you didn't specify the model, but if the Hammond plays at full volume with no effect from the swell pedal, I'd guess the light bulb underneath the expression pedal that works with the light dependent resistor for volume control has burned out. Wurlitzers and Hammonds are very different and parts would not interchange. Good luck!</P>

[Guest]

Re: Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ

Thanks for the information. The pedal setup on the Centura looks like 25 and the donor in smaller than that. I have pictures I will try to upload later after I read how. In any event, another member has offered a used set and that may be the best solution. I'll look up the organ manual company online, that may tell me how to fix static sounds on the cassette recorder as well as the main switch when turned on and how to debug the Leslie. Someone told me that I should leave the Leslie switch in the off position until I get it fixed. I will also try to find the donor organ model numbers in case any one else needs parts from them. Thanks again.

[Royal]

Re: Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ



Your cassette problems are likely just dirt on the heads and/or on the controls. If not, I have a working original cassette recorder and the leslie also from an 805 Centura Pro. The spectratone was a different sort of animal (I believe to more closely approximate the Leslie horns) and really couldn't handle any lows at all. </P>


Roy</P>

[Guest]

Re: Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ



Thanks for the information. I am interested in the pedals. I a m also interested in the Leslie, but I don't think the speaker itself is the problem. I sprayed the contacts on the recorder and that did improve it. I want to fix the problem with the Leslie first. (If the Leslie doesn't work I think I will forget this organ and try to find another organ as a gift for my friend). I took the Leslie out and did an inspection on what I am facing. The motors work well. The speaker turns and the speed is adjustable. If I connect the speaker wires to another source it works fine. (It sure was nice to hear that Leslie sound). The problem seems to be there is no signal coming from the organ itself for the sound. I don't know what to do next but it looks like the servicing manual purchase may be next. I thank you for your kind attention.
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Jim
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[andyg]

Re: Looking for advice fixing up a Wurlitzer organ

Don't waste much time on the cassette unit. Even when new, the audio quality was dire and the term 'wow and flutter' might well have been invented for most of the built in units from Bell &amp; Howell and Bigston. Even the Japanese cassette units from Sony were rather lacking.