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I'm back! I had a detour for a while. Getting ready to move, and between that and the holidays, I had to put this project on hold for a while. Also, I'm in the middle of restoring a Hammond organ... But I have all the electronic and action parts I need to put this back in motion so I would expect to see some progress in the next week. I was wondering if anyone knows where to get some white plastic stock so I can recover the keys. I did find blanks but holy cow $$$! I have all kinds of tools so no prob doing them from scratch. I can't seem to find the stock which I would think is out there. Any info would be really helpful! Thank you, and I'll have some pics in the next couple of days!

Awesome! I'm a little behind on this project admittedly. Trying to get some things done before the snow flies. I have all the parts i'll need for the rebuild, and since there are no real problems, we'll be focusing on a refresh and improving performance. Also were going to add a balanced line out which is badly needed, improved power supply, star grounding and replacing the AC power receptacle/fuse/switch with a modern configuration. After that a full disassembly for a case rebuild/refinish, key covers, re-assembly and action regulation.

Hi everyone! i'm back. Tomorrow, I'm going to map this amp rebuild thing out and take it from there. I think to start,we'll be taking some baseline measurements, checking voltages, looking for bad parts, and I'll put the amp on a scope so we can see what is happening electrically. Initially, I thought the noise floor and hum was above what I think is acceptable, and that will be a key part of improving things. (I hope). So, with that in mind I hope to have some observations and supporting pics tomorrow. See you then!

Hi Has anyone restored one of these. I have one I bought new and it was fine when I last put it in it's road case...25 years ago. I suspect a lot of bad connections, but could there be more? As I remember these things while being a really cool synth were pretty finicky. I remember having the bonnet open often. I have scopes meters tools etc.

OMG! when I saw the title I was thinking of  something completely different!

Since the last time I was here, a bunch of parts arrived for the amplifier. So here's what I have in mind to improve the performance, and reduce noise and hum.  We are going to upgrade the power supply. Improve filtering, add voltage regulation and decoupling for the  triple triode, Reroute all the grounds to a single point, (just good wiring practice) Put regulated DC current for the triodes filiment, (maybe if needed) replace all the old capacitors. swap out 10% resistors in critical areas, swap out the controls, add a balanced line out, all new isolated ins and outs, and, last but not least, get rid of that crappy power socket and replace it with an IEC style plug/fuse/switch combination.

At least that's the wish list...

I'm away next week so we will start on the the week of the 19th. Stay tuned!

Hi All,
After thinking it over, we probably need to take this in chunks. So I was thinking of something like this, not necessarily in any particular order.

Disassembly and inspection to uncover issues and prepare the cabinet for refinishing.

Amplifier refurb/upgrade

Action repair and regulation including tight/sloppy center pins, inspection of the front and balance rails key bushings etc. (The key covers are going to have to wait).

Case refinishing. (Anyone have any ideas)?

Reeds and voicing.

Reassembly and testing.

If I'm missing anything here please let me know. I'll be away for a week starting this Saturday, so we'll get the show on the road about the 19th.
I'm looking forward to your comments and suggestions!

As far as the broken white keytops go, you should see if anyone on here has any original replacements. Generics won't be a perfect size match, and replacing the all is a pain if you have never done it before. Generics will be larger and a lot of sanding and filing would be required. Unfortunately, I have sold all of my originals.

No problem. We did a lot of key cover replacements in the family business, but I'm lazy and will probably just let someone else do it. Also looks my tool box is all set although it's a mess. thanks for the help.

This is going to be an on-going project for me, and you, if you wish to contribute your comments and suggestions.

The goal is to take an old 145 that has been in my basement for 35+ years and make it a presentable viable instrument. We will be taking it one section at a time. I'd love all of you to be involved in the project, or just to follow along. More details will be here tomorrow. (Once I figure out what the hell I'm going to say) LOL!

Until then,
Best, Christine.

You probably dealt with Schaff Piano Supply every day as a working technician. If you still have standing with Schaff as a professional technician, they can supply all the standard punchings, rail pins, damper felt, bushing felt, key tops etc that are found in Wurlitzers, also tools you may need like capstan wrenches and the famous 'Schaff 4102 Let-Off  Screwdriver'. 

If you no longer have 'professional status' with Schaff:  Affleck and Vanda King are distributors for the entire Schaff catalog, and can make everything available at good prices. 

http://www.affleckpianotuning.com/
https://www.vandaking.com/

Yup i remember them and Tuners Supply. I think that's where I bought my Hale tools. I still have my Hale hammer. I remember it being a BIG splurge at the time, but it got the job done!

You need to heat the hammer tips at the base with a soldering iron to loosen the glue.  Heat, wiggle, heat, wiggle.

New tips can be glued in with titebond

Do not attempt to cover the worn hammers with felt or leather, just replace them through VV.

Thanks thought so. I grew up in a family who rebuilt concert grands here in Milwaukee so I know my way around. I was a tech/tuner for 15 years before I went back to school to be an engineer, and still have all my tools. The action in this piano is super simple, should be a snap to regulate it. Been away from it for a long time so I don't know where to get supplies anymore. I have a lot of stuff, but I guess I threw out all my punchings and such. Can you even get that stuff anymore? One more thing, what do you do for key covers, mine are shot. Thanks for the help!

[I understand your comment about wanting to make reeds.]

If I knew what kind of steel they're made of, I'd give it a shot at making my own.

I understand your comment about wanting to make reeds. I'm a retired mechanical engineer/metallurgist and have owned a number of Wurlitzers, continuously since the 1960's. Before the resurgence of interest in these pianos, I decided to make my own reeds. Identified Wurlitzer's original steel supplier and alloy, plotted the geometries, and pursued the process to shape the reeds that would prevent stress-raising/decarbing/annealing. Wound up making hundreds of reeds of all styles. I considered selling reeds as a cottage industry in my retirement, but decided against complicating my leisure.

I had the advantage of being employed for decades by defense contractors, with access to CMM, solid modeling, FEA, FFT harmonic analysis, metallurgical laboratory, etc. Also, my position gave me enough weight with vendors to source small quantities of the alloy steel from the European steel producer. (I needed pounds, they like to ship TONS.)

So now I have hundreds of reed blanks, sitting on the shelf, both 120-style and 140/200-style. The unit cost was fairly negligible.

Where I'm going with this:
Reed steel is VERY hard. Not easy to effectively shape without serious capital equipment. Unless you have access to industrial processes, I'd advise against trying to make your own, just for a few reeds.

When you take this deep a dive into reeds, you begin to discover many, many things that Wurlitzer got wrong WRT reed longevity .

I certainly would like to talk to you about this. Depending on the cost, i'd like enough for a refresh, and some spares. I'm an engineer also, I'm good with my hands, and fully equipped with tools. We should talk about your stash. I'm retired and have lots of time on my hands. Right now I just need 1, #41 for a 145 piano to get this project off the ground. Would you be able to help me out? Blanks are perfectly OK. Thanks!

Or, if you have a spare #21-#41 reed, it can be used for #42 by shortening it to fit (diagonal cutters, bench grinder or whatever) then adding or removing solder and shaping the solder until it is in tune.
It would be slightly shorter than your installed #41 reed. As described here, the #42 should be about 1/20" shorter than the #41.

Thanks for the tip. Damn those reeds from vintage keys are $$$! I used to have tons of them, my dad was a piano tech, and we fixed a lot of these during the 60's 70's. But of course, who knows what happened. I'm also a former piano tech/tuner, and I still have my tools so the regulation should be a snap. I wish there were some other options for reeds. If I knew what kind of steel they're made of, I'd give it a shot at making my own. Right now I have it torn down and just ordered parts for the tube amp refresh and a balanced output. Thanks for the help!

Hi folks,
i'm starting a rebuild on this old piano that has been sitting around in my basement for 30 years or so. It's not too bad.. Needs some regulation, has a broken reed, bad key covers etc. no big deal but,  upon further inspection a couple of the hammers are a goner, as in the worn down to the core. Are there any action parts available, or am I going to have to wing it. Thanks!

Hi everyone Christine here,
I've been an avid fan of all older keyboards, (because I grew up with them), LOL, and happy to be here. I think I've had every electric piano known to man at one point or another, but what I have left is what I think is a Wurlitzer 145 that has been sitting in my basement for at least 30 years that was given to me. (Kinda like the Minimoog Gary Neumann found in the upper part of his garage all covered with debris and Vines). And of course when I opened it up it was in pristine condition...NOT! But, it's not too bad, except for the enormous mouse nest on one side. So I cleaned it up, threw it on a variac to reform the caps and voila, it fired right up! So I need a little help... (you knew I was going to say that)... I have unfortunately 1 broken Reed, key 42. Well I can't find one anywhere, and I was wondering if any one has taken a similar sized one from another era and modified it to fit. I'm not afraid to do the modification, this girls has all the tools. So what do y'all think, and thank you! Christine.