Wurlitzer Style 260: Difference between revisions

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! Wiring Schedule
! Wiring Schedule
|-
|-
| 1234 | 1928 | Loew’s State Theatre | New York | NY | USA | 260 | ✔
| [[344|344]]
|
| [[Tivoli Th|Tivoli Th]]
| Chicago
| Illinois
| U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|-
| 5678 | 1929 | Paramount Theatre | Oakland | CA | USA | 260 | ✖
| [[383|383]]
|
| [[Ascher Capitol Th|Ascher Capitol Th]]
| Cincinnati
| Ohio
| U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|-
| 9101
| [[404|404]]
| 1927
| 
| Capitol Theatre
|  [[Liberty Th|Liberty Th]]
| Toronto
|  Great Falls
| ON
|  Montana
| Canada
|  U.S.A.
| 260
|  260
| ✔
|  521
|-
|  [[501|501]]
| 
|  [[Lafayette Th|Lafayette Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[505|505]]
| 
|  [[Grauman Egyptian Th|Grauman Egyptian Th]]
|  Hollywood
|  California
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[520|520]]
| 
|  [[Rialto Th|Rialto Th]]
|  New York
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[541|541]]
| 
|  [[Circle Th|Circle Th]]
|  Indianapolis
|  Indiana
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[558|558]]
| 
|  [[Sheas Hipp Th|Sheas Hipp Th]]
|  Toronto
|  Ontario
|  Canada
|  260SP
|  906
|-
|  [[568|568]]
| 
|  [[Elmwood Th|Elmwood Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[585|585]]
| 
|  [[Sheas Hippodrome Th|Sheas Hippodrome Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[637|637]]
| 
|  [[C T P Co|C T P Co]]
|  Melbourne
|  Victoria
| Australia
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[839|839]]
| 
|  [[Rivoli Th|Rivoli Th]]
|  New York
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[870|870]]
| 
|  [[Albee Th|Albee Th]]
|  Brooklyn
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[935|935]]
| 
|  [[State Th|State Th]]
|  Cleveland
|  Ohio
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[943|943]]
| 
|  [[Capitol Th|Capitol Th]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  562
|-
|  [[959|959]]
| 
| [[State Th|State Th]]
|  Minneapolis
|  Minnesota
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  599
|-
|  [[978|978]]
| 
|  [[Plaza Th|Plaza Th]]
|  London
|  England
|  Uk
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[987|987]]
| 
|  [[Diversey (Century) Th|Diversey (Century) Th]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  609
|-
|  [[1041|1041]]
| 
|  [[Harding Th|Harding Th]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  618
|-
|  [[1044|1044]]
| 
|  [[Riding Club|Riding Club]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  629
|-
|  [[1097|1097]]
| 
|  [[Howard / Paramount Th|Howard / Paramount Th]]
|  Atlanta
|  Georgia
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1099|1099]]
| 
|  [[Store Demo Organ|Store Demo Organ]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  636
|-
|  [[1115|1115]]
| 
|  [[Keith'S Memorial / Savoy Th|Keith'S Memorial / Savoy Th]]
|  Boston
|  Massachusetts
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  654
|-
|  [[1173|1173]]
| 
|  [[Newman Th|Newman Th]]
|  Kansas City
|  Missouri
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[1195|1195]]
| 
|  [[Terminal Th|Terminal Th]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  2604M
|  676
|-
|  [[1196|1196]]
| 
|  [[North Park Th|North Park Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  682
|-
|  [[1198|1198]]
| 
|  [[Paramount Th(Olympia)|Paramount Th(Olympia)]]
|  Miami
|  Florida
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[1203|1203]]
| 
|  [[Stanley Th|Stanley Th]]
|  Camden
|  New Jersey
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  680
|-
|  [[1323|1323]]
| 
|  [[Scollay Sq Th|Scollay Sq Th]]
|  Boston
|  Massachusetts
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1341|1341]]
| 
|  [[Palace Th|Palace Th]]
|  Cleveland
|  Ohio
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1393|1393]]
| 
|  [[Keiths Th|Keiths Th]]
|  Atlanta
|  Georgia
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  724
|-
|  [[1404|1404]]
| 
|  [[Capitol (Paramount) Th|Capitol (Paramount) Th]]
|  St Paul
|  Minnesota
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  749
|-
|  [[1406|1406]]
| 
|  [[Fox 14Th St Th|Fox 14Th St Th]]
|  New York
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1407|1407]]
| 
|  [[Keith Th|Keith Th]]
|  Columbus
|  Ohio
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1473|1473]]
| 
|  [[Famous Pl Texas Th|Famous Pl Texas Th]]
|  San Antonio
|  Texas
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  764
|-
|  [[1490|1490]]
| 
|  [[Kensington Th|Kensington Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1541|1541]]
| 
|  [[Chinese Th|Chinese Th]]
|  Hollywood
|  California
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  791
|-
|  [[1555|1555]]
| 
|  [[Lexington Ave Th|Lexington Ave Th]]
|  New York
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  778
|-
|  [[1569|1569]]
| 
|  [[Famous Players (Florida) Th|Famous Players (Florida) Th]]
|  Jacksonville
|  Florida
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1592|1592]]
| 
|  [[Avalon Th|Avalon Th]]
|  Chicago
|  Illinois
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1647|1647]]
| 
|  [[Loews Capitol Th|Loews Capitol Th]]
|  Washington
|  District of Columbia
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1657|1657]]
| 
|  [[Capitol Th|Capitol Th]]
|  Vancouver
| British Columbia
| Canada
| 260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1680|1680]]
| 
|  [[Keith'S Albee Th|Keith'S Albee Th]]
|  Cincinnati
|  Ohio
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  819
|-
|  [[1726|1726]]
| 
|  [[Denver Th|Denver Th]]
|  Denver
|  Colorado
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1731|1731]]
| 
|  [[United Artists Th|United Artists Th]]
|  Los Angeles
|  California
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1752|1752]]
| 
|  [[Madison Th|Madison Th]]
|  Ridgewood
|  New Jersey
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  859
|-
|  [[1757|1757]]
| 
|  [[Mosque Auditorium|Mosque Auditorium]]
|  Richmond
|  Virginia
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  855
|-
|  [[1778|1778]]
| 
|  [[Strand Th|Strand Th]]
|  Portland
|  Maine
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1788|1788]]
| 
|  [[Stanley Th|Stanley Th]]
|  Pittsburgh
|  Pennsylvania
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  828
|-
|  [[1793|1793]]
| 
|  [[Chester Th|Chester Th]]
|  Bronx
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1808|1808]]
| 
|  [[Capitol Th - Not Installed|Capitol Th - Not Installed]]
|  Perth
|  Washington
|  Australia
|  260
|  521
|-
|  [[1813|1813]]
| 
|  [[Capitol Th|Capitol Th]]
|  Sydney
|  New South Wales
|  Australia
|  260
| 521
|-
|  [[1824|1824]]
| 
|  [[United Artists Th|United Artists Th]]
|  Detroit
|  Michigan
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1896|1896]]
| 
|  [[Regent Th|Regent Th]]
|  Adelaide
|  South Australia
|  Australia
|  260SP
| 
|-
|  [[1901|1901]]
| 
|  [[Tower Th|Tower Th]]
|  Philadelphia
|  Pennsylvania
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  922
|-
|  [[1902|1902]]
| 
|  [[Ambassador Th|Ambassador Th]]
|  Perth
|  Washington
|  Australia
|  260SP
|  950
|-
|  [[1908|1908]]
| 
|  [[Kenmore Th|Kenmore Th]]
|  Brooklyn
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260
|  900
|-
|  [[1950|1950]]
| 
|  [[Bailey Ave Th|Bailey Ave Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
|  972
|-
|  [[2040|2040]]
| 
|  [[Regent Th|Regent Th]]
|  Brisbane
|  Queensland
|  Australia
|  260
|  900
|-
|  [[2075|2075]]
| 
|  [[Civic Th|Civic Th]]
|  Auckland
| 
|  New Zealand
|  260SP
|  1073
|-
|  [[2085|2085]]
| 
|  [[Seneca Th|Seneca Th]]
|  Buffalo
|  New York
|  U.S.A.
|  260SP
| 
|}
|}


Revision as of 18:43, 27 June 2025


Wurlitzer Style 260

Wurlitzer Style 260 Console
Typical console of a Style 260 (Photo from Regent Theatre - Sydney, Australia)

Console Type Curved Console
Bolsters 2
Manuals 3
Ranks 15
Tuned Percussions 7
Traps 14
Rank Information
Rank Name Lowest Pitch Notes
Trumpet 8' 61 pipes
Tuba Horn 16' 85 pipes
Diaphonic Diapason 32' 97 pipes
Tibia Clausa 16' 85 pipes
Clarinet 8' 61 pipes
Orchestral Oboe 8' 61 pipes
Kinura 8' 61 pipes
Saxophone 8' 61 pipes
String 8' 61 pipes
Viol d'Orchestre 8' 85 pipes
Viol Celeste 8' 73 pipes
Concert Flute 16' 97 pipes
Vox Humana 8' 61 pipes
Oboe Horn 8' 61 pipes
Quintadena 8' 61 pipes
Piano 85 notes
Marimba 49 notes
Cathedral Chimes 25 notes
Xylophone 37 notes
Glockenspiel 37 notes
Sleigh Bells 25 notes
Chrysoglott 49 notes
Layout – Manuals & Touches
Pedal 16' Tuba Profunda
16' Diaphone
16' Bourdon
8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Clarinet
8' Cello
8' Flute
4' Octave
Bass Drum
Kettle Drum
Crash Cymbal
Cymbal
3 Combination Toe Pistons
Accompaniment 16' Contra Viol (TC)
16' Bourdon
8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Clarinet
8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Kinura
8' Viol d'Orchestre
8' Viol Celeste
8' Salicional
8' Flute
8' Vox Humana
4' Piccolo
4' Viol
4' Octave Celeste
4' Salicet
4' Flute
4' Vox Humana
2 2⁄3' Twelfth
2' Piccolo
8' Piano
4' Piano
Marimba (re-it)
Harp
Chrysoglott
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Castanets
Chinese Block
Accompaniment Second Touches 8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Clarinet
Sleigh Bells
Xylophone
Triangle
10 Adjustable Combination Pistons
Great 16' Tuba Profunda
16' Diaphone
16' Bourdon
16' Contra Viol (TC)
8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Clarinet
8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Kinura
8' Viol d'Orchestre
8' Viol Celeste
8' Salicional
8' Flute
8' Vox Humana
4' Harmonic Clarion
4' Octave
4' Piccolo
4' Viol
4' Octave Celeste
4' Salicet
4' Flute
2 2/3 Twelfth
2' Fifteenth
2' Piccolo
1 3⁄5' Tierce
16' Piano
8' Piano
4' Piano
Marimba (re-it)
Harp
Cathedral Chimes
Sleigh Bells
Xylophone
Glockenspiel
Orchestral Bells (re-it)
Chrysoglott
Great Second Touches 16' Tuba Profunda
8' Tibia Clausa
10 Adjustable Combination Pistons
Solo 16' Tuba Profunda
8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Clarinet
8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Kinura
4' Harmonic Clarion
4' Piccolo
Cathedral Chimes
Xylophone
Glockenspiel
Orchestral Bells
6 Adjustable Combination Pistons
Tremulants (3) Main
Solo
Vox Humana
Toe Pistons Siren
Auto Horn
Fire Gong
Gong (re-it)
Steamboat Whistle
Horse Hoofs
Push Button Door Bell
Steamboat Whistle
General Two Expression Pedals
One Balanced Crescendo Pedal
One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal
- 1st Touch, Full Stops (wind)
- 2nd Touch, Everything
One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal
- 1st Touch, Snare Drum
- 2nd Touch, Bass Drum and Cymbal

The Wurlitzer Style 260 is one of the company's most iconic large-scale theatre organ models, which were often installed in deluxe movie palaces during the late 1920s. It is a 3-manual, 15-rank instrument that provided a powerful and versatile sound palette for silent film accompaniment, vaudeville performances, and solo concerts.

General Information

The Style 260 represented the pinnacle of Wurlitzer’s factory-produced, standardized three-manual instruments. It included an extensive array of orchestral and classical ranks, traps, tuned percussions, and effects to replicate a full orchestra. While some Style 260s were installed exactly as spec’d, many were customized at the request of venue owners or prominent organists.

History

Introduced in the mid-1920s, the 260 was marketed as a deluxe alternative to the more common Style 235. It was part of Wurlitzer's strategy to offer turn-key "unit orchestras" that could fill vast auditoriums with expressive sound. Around a dozen known 260s were built, with variations in stoplists and console decoration depending on customer preference and budget.

Specification Variations and Design Considerations

One of the distinguishing features on the spec sheet was the inclusion of a full 32′ Diaphone rank. However, this was frequently omitted in actual installations due to **ceiling height limitations** in orchestra pits and chambers. In such cases, the pedal section was often adjusted to substitute lower extensions from existing 16′ ranks, or to use resultant tones to simulate 32′ effects.

The Suitable Bass system, another unique element of the specification, was largely considered a marketing gimmick. It attempted to provide a smooth, more mellow fundamental bass tone automatically, but many organists found it to be redundant or underwhelming in practice.

Organists often requested enhancements to the tonal resources of the instrument. A common customization was the extension of the Tuba Mirabilis (on 10″ wind) down to 8′ pitch, which was not part of the standard 260 specification. This gave the instrument a middle ground in its solo voice and reinforced the upperwork with added power and gravitas.

Notable Installations

- *Loew’s State Theatre*, New York, NY (Customized with additional ranks) - *Paramount Theatre*, Oakland, CA (Known for its powerful Tuba and grand scale)

Perception and Legacy

While not as common as smaller styles like the 190 or 235, the Style 260 has gained legendary status among theatre organists and enthusiasts for its grandeur and flexibility. Surviving examples—especially those restored to original specification—are treasured for their immense tonal resources and expressive capability.

List of Known Installations

Opus Year Installed Location City State Country Style Wiring Schedule
344 Tivoli Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP
383 Ascher Capitol Th Cincinnati Ohio U.S.A. 260SP
404 Liberty Th Great Falls Montana U.S.A. 260 521
501 Lafayette Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP
505 Grauman Egyptian Th Hollywood California U.S.A. 260 521
520 Rialto Th New York New York U.S.A. 260 521
541 Circle Th Indianapolis Indiana U.S.A. 260SP
558 Sheas Hipp Th Toronto Ontario Canada 260SP 906
568 Elmwood Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP
585 Sheas Hippodrome Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP
637 C T P Co Melbourne Victoria Australia 260 521
839 Rivoli Th New York New York U.S.A. 260 521
870 Albee Th Brooklyn New York U.S.A. 260SP
935 State Th Cleveland Ohio U.S.A. 260 521
943 Capitol Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP 562
959 State Th Minneapolis Minnesota U.S.A. 260SP 599
978 Plaza Th London England Uk 260 521
987 Diversey (Century) Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP 609
1041 Harding Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP 618
1044 Riding Club Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260 629
1097 Howard / Paramount Th Atlanta Georgia U.S.A. 260SP
1099 Store Demo Organ Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP 636
1115 Keith'S Memorial / Savoy Th Boston Massachusetts U.S.A. 260SP 654
1173 Newman Th Kansas City Missouri U.S.A. 260 521
1195 Terminal Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 2604M 676
1196 North Park Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP 682
1198 Paramount Th(Olympia) Miami Florida U.S.A. 260 521
1203 Stanley Th Camden New Jersey U.S.A. 260SP 680
1323 Scollay Sq Th Boston Massachusetts U.S.A. 260SP
1341 Palace Th Cleveland Ohio U.S.A. 260SP
1393 Keiths Th Atlanta Georgia U.S.A. 260SP 724
1404 Capitol (Paramount) Th St Paul Minnesota U.S.A. 260SP 749
1406 Fox 14Th St Th New York New York U.S.A. 260SP
1407 Keith Th Columbus Ohio U.S.A. 260SP
1473 Famous Pl Texas Th San Antonio Texas U.S.A. 260SP 764
1490 Kensington Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP
1541 Chinese Th Hollywood California U.S.A. 260SP 791
1555 Lexington Ave Th New York New York U.S.A. 260SP 778
1569 Famous Players (Florida) Th Jacksonville Florida U.S.A. 260SP
1592 Avalon Th Chicago Illinois U.S.A. 260SP
1647 Loews Capitol Th Washington District of Columbia U.S.A. 260SP
1657 Capitol Th Vancouver British Columbia Canada 260SP
1680 Keith'S Albee Th Cincinnati Ohio U.S.A. 260SP 819
1726 Denver Th Denver Colorado U.S.A. 260SP
1731 United Artists Th Los Angeles California U.S.A. 260SP
1752 Madison Th Ridgewood New Jersey U.S.A. 260SP 859
1757 Mosque Auditorium Richmond Virginia U.S.A. 260SP 855
1778 Strand Th Portland Maine U.S.A. 260SP
1788 Stanley Th Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U.S.A. 260SP 828
1793 Chester Th Bronx New York U.S.A. 260SP
1808 Capitol Th - Not Installed Perth Washington Australia 260 521
1813 Capitol Th Sydney New South Wales Australia 260 521
1824 United Artists Th Detroit Michigan U.S.A. 260SP
1896 Regent Th Adelaide South Australia Australia 260SP
1901 Tower Th Philadelphia Pennsylvania U.S.A. 260SP 922
1902 Ambassador Th Perth Washington Australia 260SP 950
1908 Kenmore Th Brooklyn New York U.S.A. 260 900
1950 Bailey Ave Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP 972
2040 Regent Th Brisbane Queensland Australia 260 900
2075 Civic Th Auckland New Zealand 260SP 1073
2085 Seneca Th Buffalo New York U.S.A. 260SP

See Also

References

  • Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ
  • Williams, Terry. Theatre Organ Stops and Styles: A Comprehensive Guide
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