Wurlitzer Miniature Student Butterfly Baby Grand Piano To Rebuild. Rare. 1935

Description

This student grand manufactured in the 1930s by Wurlitzer is not a toy... It is, in fact, a small grand piano, with 44 full-size keys, and a genuine grand piano action.
This piano was made in the 1930’s as a student piano by one of the most famous musical manufacturing companies...Wurlitzer.
This particular piano is ready for a full restoration. Since it has an actual grand piano action, and is strung with actual piano strings (2 per note in the treble range), this piano does not have a clunky “plinking” sound that toys have, but rather sounds like a grand piano. You should be able to get a new set of strings at Schaff piano supply in Lake Zürich Illinois. I kept the complete set of strings, which you will receive, so getting replacements shouldn’t be a problem.
Few of these diminutive and distinctive gems are still in existence. These Instruments are sought after by musicians and collectors alike - not only for their rarity and unusual appearance, but for their uniquely delicate sound.
Look on YouTube under “Baby Baby Grand Piano” to see a gentleman playing a similar piano to this. It is not this piano, it’s just the exact same type.
Please look closely at all of the photos.
I disassembled the piano into its major components. As you can see, the action and dampers are still intact. I got as far as replacing half of the key tops (last picture), began to remove the black paint off of the beautiful soundboard (1st picture), removed the strings from the harp, regilded the harp, and shaped a new laminated maple wrestplank to fit into it (7th picture). I was just about to drill the holes into the wrestplank (pin block) when I decided to take a short break... that was 29 years ago. You will receive the old pin block with this so that you know exactly where the holes are to be drilled. You will also receive all of the pins.
There are no missing pieces on the piano’s action or body, except for the lid, which I describe below.
The dimensions of this piano are 30” x 30” x 28”, and it weighs 100 lbs.
Please ask me any questions you would like about this piano. I was lucky enough to find 2 of these amazing pianos. I just sold one on Ebay. I figured I would keep this one and rebuild it...who am I kidding?
This is not a project for a novice. You need to have some mechanical knowledge and the desire to restore this little gem back to its former glory. Everything is logical...if you are patient, and proceed with care, you will be able to do this. I know, I built a full size harpsichord after graduating high school.
I really wish I had the time, but I don’t. I will attempt to wrap all major component with their corresponding parts together. After 29 years, I can’t guarantee that there hasn’t been a nut or bolt misplaced, but I have taken inventory off all of the pianos major elements, and nothing is missing other than the pieces of wood for the lid. The wood that came on the piano did not create the Butterfly effect that is the reason for the pianos name. There is a YouTube video called “Grand Piano in a Box” that shows the lid quite clearly. With some woodworking confidence and 3/8” Birch plywood, another “Butterfly” lid can be created.
Other than that, you should be able to find what you need at a hardware store.
Please
note
: this little gem requires a complete rebuild and restringing. I do not want you to think that you will be able to put this together and start playing. It’s a very rare and unusual piano, and if you can manage to restore it, will give you a masterpiece to enjoy for years.
Also
Note
: If you need this piano shipped, the cost will be 8.00 on average. Since USPS has a 70 lb. limit, I would split the piano into 2 parcels...the case and harp in one box, and the legs, body pieces, strings, pins, keyboard and action in another. It would take me a while to get it packaged, so allow extra time (2 weeks) for that. Your best bet would be to contact me so we can work out the best and most economical way for you to ship your piano.