Why are some of the Keys on my Wurlitzer 112 lower than others?
In this article we are going to discuss 112 hammers that are significantly lower in height than other keys. Also these keys will not hit and will feel ‘stuck’. This sometimes happens when the Wurlitzer 112 has been moved around, placed on its back, or dare I say, placed upside down. This can also happen simply when a key is removed to be worked on. Because the fly (or jack) is different on the 112, it is connected to the whip in a way where it has a more free rotation than in later models. The only thing that is keeping the fly in place on the hammer butt is the back end of the regulating screw. The fly in a 112 is situated in a way where it can become unseated from the hammer butt. When this happens, the hammer sits about half an inch lower than a hammer that is otherwise seated correctly.
Cross section of a Wurlitzer 112 action assembly. We have edited the photo to show what an unseated hammer looks like and how the fly falls behind the regulating screw.
Later Wurlitzer electronic pianos, such as the 120, 140, 700 and 200 series do not have this problem. Wurlitzer worked into the design a way to prevent the fly from falling out of position. But on the early 112 this was possible. When the 112 was invented Wurlitzer reinvented the traditional piano action to bring a revolutionary product to market, the electronic piano. Their goal was to keep as much of the same principals of a classic piano action so as to preserve a piano-like weighted feel - and succeeded. To accomplish this they needed shrink the typical piano action and make some radical changes. Unfortunately one side effect of this on the first go around (the 112) was a way for the fly to pop out.
How do I get the fly back in and fix my hammer?
There is no tool for this - or none that you can get at the hardware store. We use the wire from a coat hanger (or if you can get something of a slightly smaller gauge like, oh say, 12 gauge hanger wire for hung ceilings?). The stiff, but pliable wire can be fashioned into a 10” length with a 1cm curved hook at the end. This is usually perfect to reach between the fallen hammer in question and it’s neighboring hammer, and while lifting the droopy hammer with your other hand, hook its fly and pull it forward a bit into place. If you then release the hammer onto the fly and the hammer sits at its new higher position and the key plays normally you are back in business.
What if my hammer is only slightly lower than the other hammers?
The back of the key sits on a felt key cloth that should be even and not too compressed. If you have your keys out inspect that this cloth is in good shape as this can effect the keys and the height of their corresponding hammer. Additionally, the capstan located on the back of the key is at the point of lost motion in this piano. It’s height will affect the hammer height to a slight degree.
Further Reading
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