This was a total Restoration on a Wurlitzer Harp style B.

Here are a few pictures as it arrived.

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THE RESTORATION

This is a complete restoration including adding one of our MIDI systems.

The following pictures are in random order.

VALVE CHEST

The valve chest was upgraded to adjustable valves. The original cone shaped rubber valves are no longer available. New valves were designed and tested. Now valves can be adjusted from outside the chest. This is a great advantage being that there are different size pneumatics that operate the plucker's and each valve can be custom set for best performance. In which is our goal.

Replaced pouches with Zephyr skin.This was the best choice being that the tracker bar holes and tubes are smaller in size than the typical 5/32”. Will react much faster than a leather pouch.

• Before Before
• Old pneumatic cloth pouches. Old pneumatic cloth pouches.
• Removed old pouches, drilled and installed internal bleeds. Removed old pouches, drilled and installed internal bleeds.
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• Replaced pouches with Zephyr skin.This was the best choice being that the tracker bar holes and tubes are smaller in size than the typical 5/32". Will react much faster than a leather pouch. Replaced pouches with Zephyr skin.This was the best choice being that the tracker bar holes and tubes are smaller in size than the typical 5/32". Will react much faster than a leather pouch.
• Old rubber seats. Old rubber seats.
• The next few pictures show the upgraded seats and valves. The next few pictures show the upgraded seats and valves.
• A 1/2" nickel plated seat is installed. A 1/2" nickel plated seat is installed.
• Valve sitting in seat. Valve sitting in seat.
• The new adjustable valves. Similar to a Wurlitzer valve. The new adjustable valves. Similar to a Wurlitzer valve.
• All pouches where sealed, seats installed and leather seal instaled to mate the top half. All pouches where sealed, seats installed and leather seal instaled to mate the top half.
• All valves in their place. Aren't they pretty! All valves in their place. Aren't they pretty!
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• Top installed. Seats where also installed in the top board. Screws and tubes where Nickel plated. Top installed. Seats where also installed in the top board. Screws and tubes where Nickel plated.
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• On the bottom of the chest the hardened hoses where removed and nipples where replaced with stainless steel. On the bottom of the chest the hardened hoses where removed and nipples where replaced with stainless steel.
• Complete Complete
• Installed in frame. Installed in frame.
• It was determined how much travel was needed for each individual size of pneumatic that operates the Plucker's. Vacuum was applied to the chest and each valve was digitally calibrated to its determined travel for best performance. It was determined how much travel was needed for each individual size of pneumatic that operates the Plucker's. Vacuum was applied to the chest and each valve was digitally calibrated to its determined travel for best performance.
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It was determined how much travel was needed for each individual size of pneumatic that operates the Plucker’s. Vacuum was applied to the chest and each valve was digitally calibrated to its determined travel for best performance.

TRACKER BAR

This wooded tracker bar disassembles in many sections and GREAT care needs to be taken when gluing back together so all of the channels are sealed and air passages are clear. As you see in the pictures, many steps where taken to ensure that the bar stays perfectly straight when gluing.

• Before Before
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• Sandwiched between 2 hard maple boards. Sandwiched between 2 hard maple boards.
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• COMPLETE!! COMPLETE!!
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• Again, nipples where replaced with stainless steel.Mainly because of the odd size diameter. Again, nipples where replaced with stainless steel.Mainly because of the odd size diameter.
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PUMP

A complete pump needs to be fabricated. The original pumps wood was to dried out to salvage. As always, I cover all pumps in leather!

• Original. Original.
• Pump taken apart. Pump taken apart.
• New pump boards and frames. New pump boards and frames.
• The original hinge had no internal hinge. Just wrapped on the outside with graphite on the inside. The original hinge had no internal hinge. Just wrapped on the outside with graphite on the inside.
• I installed a internal hinge and an 1/8" spacer to ensure no binding. I installed a internal hinge and an 1/8" spacer to ensure no binding.
• I upgraded all flaps to be spring loaded. I laid the original beside the new to show the difference. The original flaps worked on gravity being that the pump is installed at a angle. But can also take longer to close causing a lag in the pump. I upgraded all flaps to be spring loaded. I laid the original beside the new to show the difference. The original flaps worked on gravity being that the pump is installed at a angle. But can also take longer to close causing a lag in the pump.
• I mark the underside of the leather flap to ensure its centered over the holes. I mark the underside of the leather flap to ensure its centered over the holes.
• Internal flaps complete. Internal flaps complete.
• I added 2 straps to the mouth of the reservoir being that the original center stop will eventually fail due to the outward pressure of the reservoir. This will even out the stress. I added 2 straps to the mouth of the reservoir being that the original center stop will eventually fail due to the outward pressure of the reservoir. This will even out the stress.
• COMPLETE!!! COMPLETE!!!
• Before & After Before & After
• The frame The frame
• The frame was pulled apart and re-glued. As was the rest of the main frame. The frame was pulled apart and re-glued. As was the rest of the main frame.
• Gluing back together. Gluing back together.
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FRAME AND MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES

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• Coin mechanism Coin mechanism
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• New bottom board was fabricated. New bottom board was fabricated.
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• All pneumatics installed All pneumatics installed
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MOTOR

• Before Before
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• Completed Completed
• All decals and labels are also restored. Nothing is left out! All decals and labels are also restored. Nothing is left out!
• This picture shows the new motor mount using vibration resistant rubber standoffs. This picture shows the new motor mount using vibration resistant rubber standoffs.
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• Before & After Before & After
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THE PLUCKER'S

There will be more pictures added to this section in time. The pivots and pluckers are in fabrication.

• Before Before
• Complete Complete
• Before & After Before & After
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PIN BLOCK

• Removed top Pin Block board to use as a template. Removed top Pin Block board to use as a template.
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• Completed and veneered top with Birds Eye Maple. Completed and veneered top with Birds Eye Maple.
• Routed channels for the light wires like original. Routed channels for the light wires like original.
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• COMPLETE! COMPLETE!
• To make everything match in color a double stain was used. First a dark stain to give a weathered look, lightly sanded and then the top coat stain. This method was mostly used throughout the project. To make everything match in color a double stain was used. First a dark stain to give a weathered look, lightly sanded and then the top coat stain. This method was mostly used throughout the project.
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SOUNDBOARD

• Before Before
• The bottom sound box was originally made from Poplar. Now it has been made from Maple. It's important to use a stronger wood in this area being that it aids in supporting the string board. As you can see it was cracked as are so many others I've seen. The bottom sound box was originally made from Poplar. Now it has been made from Maple. It's important to use a stronger wood in this area being that it aids in supporting the string board. As you can see it was cracked as are so many others I've seen.
• Steel support rods where made that run inside the soundboard and go through the sound box below and secured to the bottom. This was designed to support the Fret Board. The Harp was brought up to tune and then the rods where snugged up. Steel support rods where made that run inside the soundboard and go through the sound box below and secured to the bottom. This was designed to support the Fret Board. The Harp was brought up to tune and then the rods where snugged up.
• Custom made end nut. Custom made end nut.
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• Outside cover installed Outside cover installed
• Front view Front view
• Another upgrade was to recess the soundboard and box into the outer frame. Originally it was flush and could move in time from all of the pressure. Now the entire structure is secure. Another upgrade was to recess the soundboard and box into the outer frame. Originally it was flush and could move in time from all of the pressure. Now the entire structure is secure.
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• New fret board.Previous reproductions used ebony wood for the frets. Originally they used a hard composite material, the same material that where used for the Plucker pivots. With better modern materials available we used Delrin. Also built the Pluckers out of the same material. New fret board.Previous reproductions used ebony wood for the frets. Originally they used a hard composite material, the same material that where used for the Plucker pivots. With better modern materials available we used Delrin. Also built the Pluckers out of the same material.
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CASE

• The back side of the case had to be fabricated from scratch. Here you see one of the sides. The door is being fitted for the cutout. The original front fa�ade was used but trim was replaced. The back side of the case had to be fabricated from scratch. Here you see one of the sides. The door is being fitted for the cutout. The original front fa�ade was used but trim was replaced.
• New door New door
• Replaceing donuts around the sound holes. Replaceing donuts around the sound holes.
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• Completed. Sorry, didn't take all the pictures of the steps. Got carried away with the work. Completed. Sorry, didn't take all the pictures of the steps. Got carried away with the work.
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• Inside latch identical to original. Inside latch identical to original.
• Completed! Completed!
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• Final product! Stained and finished. Final product! Stained and finished.
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MISCELLANEOUS and MIDI system

• This picture shows an example on how far we go to reproduce and match new parts. These are the Plucker rod holders. The 2 on the left are original and the 2 on the right are reproductions. The rusty screws stained the wood on the originals and we reproduced this with the new pieces. This picture shows an example on how far we go to reproduce and match new parts. These are the Plucker rod holders. The 2 on the left are original and the 2 on the right are reproductions. The rusty screws stained the wood on the originals and we reproduced this with the new pieces.
• These are the new Plucker's made from Delrin. Currently all Harpsichord pluckers are made of this material. Much better sound produced by these. There where also a new original set made from Maple that will be stored with the instrument to maintain the original parts. These are the new Plucker's made from Delrin. Currently all Harpsichord pluckers are made of this material. Much better sound produced by these. There where also a new original set made from Maple that will be stored with the instrument to maintain the original parts.
• A new coin shoot had to be fabricated and then plated. A new coin shoot had to be fabricated and then plated.
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• Complete Complete
• A new coin box also had to be made.Notice we use original hardware (flat key locks) A new coin box also had to be made.Notice we use original hardware (flat key locks)
• Midi solenoid brackets where made. These are our generic holders used for our valves. Midi solenoid brackets where made. These are our generic holders used for our valves.
• Self contained Midi system and will have a wireless transmitter for use with any laptop or pc. Self contained Midi system and will have a wireless transmitter for use with any laptop or pc.
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• Frame being fitted. Frame being fitted.
• Installed! Installed!
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**********COMPLETED***********

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************VIDEOS*************

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