A LIST OF KNOWN MUSIC ROLLS

FOR THE

WURLITZER MILITARY BAND ORGAN

STYLE 180

Compiled by
Matthew O. Caulfield





180 Band Organ, front
Wurlitzer Style 180 Band Organ, front


The short list that follows describes all known Wurlitzer Style 180 rolls. No company literature survives that lists any Style 180 rolls; therefore roll contents are known only from auditioning the rolls that still exist. All the rolls described here accompany the one Wurlitzer Style 180 band organ still playing the Style 180 roll. Extra copies of each roll were also held by the late Jim Wells of Fairfax, Va., who owned the organ for a number of years, until it was sold to Jasper Sanfilippo, in Barrington Hills, Ill. Additionally I have recorded each of the rolls listed here except roll 15050.

The Style 180 band organ was introduced by Wurlitzer in 1922, its design probably heavily influenced by the theater organ people at Wurlitzer in the 1920s. It was not a commercial success, and very few were produced. Thus there was a only a small market for Style 180 rolls, making them expensive for both Wurlitzer and its customers. See the table at the end of the roll listing for data on the five Style 180 band organs made by Wurlitzer, plus one conversion of a Ruth organ.

It appears that only 8 tunes were included on each roll, yet the Style 180 roll sold in 1933 for $50, compared to $35 for a Style 165 roll, $17.50 for a Style 150 roll, and $15 for a Style 125 roll.

Some of the surviving rolls are imperfect, having lost their first tune or tunes, together with tune titles and roll numbering. In cases where the roll number is not known, an approximate number is given based on the dates of the tunes on the roll and the assumption that Wurlitzer began the roll series in 1922 with roll 15001. From factory records it is known that numbering did reach 15082 before Style 180 roll production ceased.


180 Band Organ, rear
Wurlitzer Style 180 Band Organ, rear


ROLL NUMBER 150-- (ca. 15010)

1. Stars And Stripes Forever

(John P. Sousa)

(May 14, 1897)

March

2. No, No, Nora

(Erdman & Fiorito)

(Jul 26, 1923)

Fox Trot

3. Wild Papa; the jazziest of jazz songs

(Bennie Krueger)

(Apr 30, 1923)

Fox Trot

4. A Kiss In The Dark
(From the 1922 Broadway musical "Orange Blossoms")

(Victor Herbert)

(Sep 12, 1922)

Waltz

5. Saw Mill River Road

(Harry Tierney)

(Oct 15, 1921)

Fox Trot

6. College Fight Songs (Medley): On Wisconsin
Illinois Fight Song
Notre Dame Victory March



March

NOTE: Roll examined is a copy, by Mike Kitner, of a roll lacking several tunes, apparently with tunes 1 and 6 borrowed from another roll to extend its length.

ROLL NUMBER 150-- (ca. 15030)

1. (missing)




2. (missing)




3. Chérie, I Love You = Chérie, Je T'Aime

(Lillian Rosedale Goodman)

(Mar 13, 1926)

Waltz

4. Valencia
(From the stage revues "Mistinguett" and "The Great Temptations")

(José Padilla)

(Dec 31, 1925)

Tango

5. Ting A Ling; waltz of the bells

(Jack Little)

(Mar 12, 1926)

Waltz

6. Bye Bye Blackbird

(Ray Henderson)

(May 3, 1926)

Fox Trot

7. A Kiss In The Dark
(From the 1922 Broadway musical "Orange Blossoms")

(Victor Herbert)

(Sep 12, 1922)

Waltz

8. When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along

(Harry Woods)

(May 17, 1926)

Fox Trot


NOTE: Roll examined is a Wurlitzer green-paper roll, with tunes factory-numbered 3-8. Original owned by Tim Trager.

ROLL NUMBER 15050

1. A Night In June

(Arthur B. Targett)
(arr. Hartley Moore)

(Nov 2, 1918)
(Aug 24, 1927)


2. Marvelous

(Peter De Rose)

(Jul 29, 1927)


3. The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi

(F. Dudleigh Vernor)
(arr. Elmer Schoebel)

(Feb 19, 1912)
(Jun 1, 1927)

Waltz

4. Dancing Tambourine

(W. C. Polla)

(Aug 4, 1927)

Fox Trot

5. Someday You'll Say O.K.

(Walter Donaldson)

(Aug 15, 1927)

Fox Trot

6. (Unidentified)




7. Barbara

(Abner Silver)

(Aug 2, 1927)

Fox Trot



NOTE: Roll not examined. Probably tunes 2-8, with tune 1 missing.

ROLL NUMBER 150-- (ca. 15055)

1. That's What Puts The Sweet In Home Sweet Home

(Lowry, Gordon & Newman)

(Sep 12, 1928)

Fox Trot

2. Crazy Rhythm
(From the 19328 Broadway musical "Here's Howe")

(Meyer & Kahn)

(Apr 14, 1928)

Fox Trot

3. Your Land And My Land
(From the stage musical "My Maryland")

(Sigmund Romberg)

(Jan 29, 1927)

Fox Trot

4. Silver Moon
(From the stage musical "My Maryland")

(Sigmund Romberg)

(Jan 29, 1927)

Waltz

5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(From "Harry Delmar's Revels" (1927) and the 1928 Broadway revue "Blackbirds Of 1928")

(Jimmy McHugh)

(Mar 6, 1928)

Fox Trot

6. Evening Star

(Turk & Ahlert)

(May 14, 1928)

Fox Trot

7. Girl Of My Dreams

(Sunny Clapp)

(Sep 14, 1927)

Waltz

8. College Fight Songs (Medley): On Wisconsin
Illinois Fight Song
Notre Dame Victory March



March

NOTE: Roll examined is a copy, by Mike Kitner, of a roll that is complete.

ROLL NUMBER 15062

1. Down The River Of Golden Dreams

(Klenner & Shilkret)

(Feb 6, 1930)

Waltz

2. Little White Lies

(Walter Donaldson)

(Jun 27, 1930)

Fox Trot

3. Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine

(Sammy Fain)

(Jan 14, 1929)

Fox Trot

4. Carolina Moon

(Joe Burke)

(Oct 22, 1928)

Waltz

5. Lover Come Back To Me
(From the 1928 Broadway musical "New Moon")

(Sigmund Romberg)

(Sep 12, 1928)

Fox Trot

6. How About Me?

(Irving Berlin)

(Nov 13, 1928)

Fox Trot

7. Poor Punchinello
(From the 1929 Paramount-Lasky motion picture "Looping The Loop")

(Lew Pollack)

(Jan 9, 1929)

Waltz

8. Dream Train

(Billy Baskette)

(Dec 12, 1928)

Fox Trot


NOTE: Roll examined is a copy, by Mike Kitner, of a roll or more likely two rolls, probably an incomplete roll from 1929 with tunes 1-2 from a later (1930 or 1931) roll. Tune 2 is shorter than normal.

ROLL NUMBER 150-- (ca. 15070)

1. (missing)




2. (missing)




3. (missing)




4. Molly
(From the 1929 Pathé motion picture "The Grand Parade")

(Goulding & Dougherty)

(Nov 9, 1929)

Waltz

5. 'Taint No Sin To Dance Around In Your Bones

(Walter Donaldson)

(Nov 11, 1929)

Fox Trot

6. I'm Following You
(From the MGM motion pictures "Cotton And Silk" and "It's A Great Life")

(Dreyer & MacDonald)

(Nov 12, 1929)

Fox Trot

7. (Unidentified)



Waltz

8. H'lo Baby
(Theme of the 1929 First National Pictures motion picture "Forward Pass")

(Magidson, Washington & Cleary)

(Oct 9, 1929)

Fox Trot


NOTE: Roll examined is a Wurlitzer green-paper roll, with tunes factory-numbered 4-8. Original owned by Tim Trager. Tune 5 is titled on piano rolls and phonograph records "Tain't No Sin To Take Off Your Skin And Dance Around In Your Bones."

ROLL NUMBER 15075 (?)

1. (missing




2. (missing)




3. Rollin' Down The River
(From "Spades Are Trump")

(Thomas Waller)

(Apr 25, 1930)

Fox Trot

4. My Heart Belongs To The Girl Who Belongs To Somebody Else

(Al Sherman)

(Sep 23, 1929)

Waltz

5. Wasn't It Nice(Play tune in MP3)

(Seymour Simons)

(May 6, 1930)

Fox Trot

6. I Remember You From Somewhere, Somewhere In My Dreams

(Harry Warren)

(May 9, 1930)

Fox Trot

7. The Kiss Waltz
(From "Three Flights Up" and the 1930 Warner Brothers motion picture "Dancing Sweeties")

(Joe Burke)

(Apr 11, 1930)

Waltz

8. Just A Little Closer
(From the 1930 motion picture "Remote Control")

(Joseph Meyer)

(Apr 10, 1930)

Fox Trot


NOTE: Roll examined is an original Wurlitzer green-paper roll, with tunes factory-numbered 3-8.

ROLL NUMBER 15076

1. Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder For Somebody Else

(Harry Warren)

(Nov 22, 1929)

Fox Trot

2. My Future Just Passed
(From "Safety In Numbers")

(Richard A. Whiting)

(Apr 7, 1930)

Fox Trot

3. It Happened In Monterrey
(From the Universal motion picture "King Of Jazz")

(Mabel Wayne)

(Feb 1, 1930)

Waltz

4. Anchors Aweigh; song of the Navy

(Charles A. Zimmerman; arr. Domenico Savino)

(Apr 29, 1930)

March

5. Swingin' In A Hammock

(Pete Wendling)

(Jun 20, 1930)

Fox Trot

6. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

(Joe Burke)

(Apr 23, 1930)

Waltz

7. I'm In The Market For You
(From "High Society Blues")

(James F. Hanley)

(Apr 9, 1930)

Fox Trot



NOTE: Roll examined is a copy, by Mike Kitner, of a roll probably lacking tune 1. Tune 4 was copyrighted Apr. 24, 1907, by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, one of the few music copyrights registered by that firm.

ROLL NUMBER 15077

1. My Baby Just Cares For Me
(From "Whoopee")

(Walter Donaldson)

(Aug 29, 1930)

Fox Trot

2. One More Waltz (Play tune in MP3)
(From the 1930 MGM motion picture "Love In The Rough")

(Jimmy McHugh)
 (Jul 11,1930)

Waltz

3. Beyond The Blue Horizon
(From the 1930 Paramount Publix motion picture "Monte Carlo")

(Whiting & Harling)

(Sep 6, 1930)

Fox Trot

4. Just A Little Dance, Mam'selle

(Pete Wendling)

(Sep 2, 1930)

Fox Trot

5. Somewhere In Old Wyoming

(Will Havlin)

(Apr 28, 1930)

Waltz

6. I'll Be Blue Just Thinking Of You From Now On

(Pete Wendling)

(Jul 25, 1930)

Fox Trot


NOTE: Copy, by Mike Kitner, of original Wurlitzer roll. Probably tunes 3-8, with tunes 1-2 lost.

NOTE: Tune 2 was unidentified until Feb. 2024, when Mikey Mills posted virtual recordings from 82- and 87-key B.A.B. rolls on SoundCloud, and Andrew Park recognized this tune.

ROLL NUMBER 150**

1. Stars And Stripes Forever

(John P. Sousa)

(May 14, 1897)

March

2. Liechtensteiner Polka

(Kotscher & Lindt)

(Jan 1, 1957)

Polka

3. Stars And Stripes Forever

(John P. Sousa)

(May 14, 1897)

March

4. Liechtensteiner Polka

(Kotscher & Lindt)

(Jan 1, 1957)

Polka

5. College Fight Song (Medley)



March


NOTE: Not a Wurlitzer roll. Tunes 1 and 2 were arranged by Art Reblitz and repeated as tunes 3 and 4 to fill out this roll. Tune 5 is borrowed from an original Wurlitzer roll.





STYLE 180 BAND ORGANS MANUFACTURED BY WURLITZER

There were only five Style 180 band organs made by Wurlitzer between 1922 and 1930. In addition, they converted a Ruth organ to Style 180 rolls in 1924. Production of the Style 180 band organ seems, in retrospect, to have been a questionable decision, probably influenced by the theatre organ contingent at the Wurlitzer factory in the early 1920s. Wurlitzer advertising claimed that wind requirements of the Style were so great that they couldn't be met by organ bellows, and so the Style 180 used a blower system to supply the demand. This claim is belied by many European organs such as large Gaviolis which were able to use bellows.

The first Style 180, serial #3439, was shipped April 21, 1922, to John E. Gooding, Puritas Springs, Ohio. It is now in the Sanfilippo collection, Barrington Hills, Illinois, playing style 180 rolls on one tracker bar and style 165 rolls on the other.

The second Style 180, serial #3612, was shipped November 17, 1923, to Mr. Mac Cormack, Chicago, Illinois. Its history is unknown.

The third Style 180, serial #3765, was shipped April 29, 1925, to G. Merritt Jones, Ocean Park, California. It was destroyed in a fire at the park.

The fourth Style 180, serial #4182, was shipped June 18, 1929, to St. Mary's Church, Amsterdam, N.Y., and was equipped with swell shutters. It was returned to the Wurlitzer factory and shipped out to Bell's Skating Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 11, 1936, playing APP rolls. It was returned to the factory by Bell's and reshipped to Bell's on March 22, 1937, equipped with 16-foot bourdon pipes and a keyboard, and playing APP rolls. The organ is now in the Virginia City, Montana, collection, needing much work.

The fifth and final Style 180, serial #4275, was shipped December 30, 1930, to Mrs. Nellie Conrad, Waukegan, Illinois. It had metal 4-in-1 valve blocks and two snare drums (unlike serial #3439, which has one). It did not have the reiterating bell bars that serial #3439 has. The organ played for some years in the dance hall at Eldridge Park, Elmira, N.Y. It is now in the Bies/Boehck collection, Houston, Texas, and plays APP rolls.

Since there was obviously little marked for Style 180 rolls, it appears that Wurlitzer discontinued the production of them by 1931 in favor of the use of APP rolls. All in all, the Style 180 seems to be a badly conceived venture.

In addition to the five Style 180 band organs built by Wurlitzer, a Model 38 Ruth was converted to 180 rolls and shipped April 10, 1924, to Krug Park Amusement Co., Omaha, Nebraska. The organ was misidentified as a "Bruder" in Wurlitzer factory records and was shown as serial #1713. Now in Holland, it is restored and playing folding cardboard book music once again (Fred Dahlinger, Jr., COAA Carousel Organ #53, 2012).