Gulbransen
Gulbransen, Inc. Founded in Chicago, Illinois by Axel Gulbransen. 1917 Gulbransen, Inc. Grows to be the world’s largest manufacturer of player pianos. 1928 Gulbransen produces its first organ (reed pump organ). 1942 Steinway and Gulbransen selected as the only two manufacturers of pianos for government use during World War II. A guide for collectors and sellers to determine the age of a Gulbransen piano is to locate the brand name and the serial number. There are numerous historical publications used by experts and enthusiasts in the music industry to cross reference brand names and serial numbers in order to target the dates of manufacture. To find out the age of your Gulbransen piano, you will need to know the piano's serial number. The serial number can be found stamped somewhere on the frame or soundboard. On grand pianos the number may be found on the key stop rail and/or the soundboard. The number shown is the last serial number manufactured in that year. The Gulbransen Registering Piano was unquestionably one of the best-known instruments of its class. Its trademark, Easy-at-the-Pedals, and slogan, 'Easy to Play,' were impressed upon the memory of millions of people through national advertising. In 1928, Gulbransen introduced their first organ, which later would become a major focus for the.
Gulbransen Piano Dates
Gulbransen
2102 Hancock Street
San Diego CA 92110
(619) 296-5760
www.gulbransen.com
| 1915-90000 1916-101000 1917-110000 1918-120000 1919-130000 1920-140000 1921-150000 1922-165000 1923-182000 1924-195000 1925-218000 1926-240000 1927-265000 1928-282000 | 1929-300000 1930-301000 1931-303000 1935-304500 1933-306000 1934-307900 1935-308900 1936-312000 1937-322000 1938-333000 1939-338000 1940-344000 1941-349000 1942-354000 | 1943-354500 1944-355000 1945-357000 1946-358000 1947-366000 1948-380000 1949-395000 1950-405500 1951-416000 1952-420000 1953-428000 1954-435500 1955-443500 1956-452500 | 1957-461000 1958-470500 1959-479000 1960-488300 1961-497000 1962-506000 1963-515000 1964-524000 1965-542000 1966-551100 1967-559400 1968-565000 1969-571000 | |||
| Information courtesy of Gulbransen | ||||||
Company Information
1904
Gulbransen, Inc. founded in Chicago, Illinois by Axel Gulbransen.
1917
Gulbransen, Inc. grows to be the world’s largest manufacturer of player pianos.
1928
Gulbransen produces its first organ (reed pump organ).
1942
Steinway and Gulbransen selected as the only two manufacturers of pianos for government use during World War II.
1957
Gulbransen introduces the world’s first all transistor organ.
1962-72
Gulbransen leads the high-tech home organ industry with many firsts: first electronic theater organ; first built-in automatic rhythm; first realistic piano voice in an organ; first instant playback; first automatic-walking bass plus many others.
1973
Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) purchases Gulbransen, Steinway and Sons; Rodgers Organs; Gemeinhardt Flute; Lyon and Healy Harp; Fender Rhodes and others to form the world’s most prestigious musical instrument company.
1986
Gulbransen acquired from CBS by a California music company. Gulbransen continues the effort started at CBS to create high quality wave synthesis of instrumental sounds with enough oscillators to be used on organs where many different instruments must be available simultaneously.
1987
Gulbransen produces its first wave synthesis ASICs and enters the technology business selling complete designs of digital pianos to manufacturers in Asia.
1988
Digital pianos using Gulbransen technology take over more than 50% of the market in Korea. Gulbransen patents an optical sensor strip which detects velocity of piano keys for use with MIDI devices. Elton John, Billy Joel and others choose the Gulbransen MIDISystem for use in their acoustic pianos.
1992
Gulbransen re-spins its ASICs increasing the output accuracy to 20 bits and installs 18 bit DACs to eliminate all vestiges of background hiss.
1994
Gulbransen begins custom designs to penetrate the PC integrated circuit market with low-cost, high-quality wave synthesis, full custom chips, which are backward compatible with existing software. Additionally, Gulbransen introduces a high quality portable digital hymn player containing over 5,000 songs for the church market.
1996
Gulbransen introduces the G392, the first PC sound chip with the capabilities to play 64 simultaneous voices through a hardware based synthesizer engine.
1997
World renowed keyboard manufacturer, Baldwin Pianos, selects the Gulbransen MIDISystem as the foundation component in launching its Concert Master piano line.
1998
Gulbransen sells the assets of its chip design division to National Semiconductor. Gulbransen continues its musical instrument manufacturing business. The company’s highly regarded MIDISystems line and the Gulbransen Digital Hymnal remain defining, state-of-the-art, music products.
(The above is from the ” Gulbransen Web site” )
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The captain's model guide
About this guide
This is a quick guide to Leslie speaker models suited for Hammond organs. This document is meant as a reference for when you are browsing the classifieds or eBay and is not meant to list every little detail about the speakers. Fping install windows. Some models are covered elsewhere on this website, often in detail and with pictures.
About the background
The background is Leslie finish 'Oak No 20'.
About the roto-sonics
Since most players and technicians, including myself, find the roto-sonic Leslie models less valuable, these are listed in a separate section. Some of these speaker models may be used as is, or they can be converted into more Hammond friendly models or simply serve as parts donors for other more valuable Leslie models. Electro Music tended to use the same parts in as many applications as possible, so a good many parts from, say, a model 710 may be used to restore a model 122. If you happen to prefer the more theatre organ-like sound of the roto-sonic Leslie speaker, by all means - you are just lucky to like the more inexpensive alternative.
Gulbransen Organ Serial Numbers 1
About the speakers still in production by Hammond-Suzuki
Models 122, 147 and 770 are still in production as model 122A/122XB, 147A and 771/971 respectively. They are updated in the technical design, but the basic functionality is the same as the vintage speakers. For a while model 145 and 142 were being produced as 145A and 142A. A vintage speaker in immaculate condition may fetch a higher price than a new Leslie, especially for the tube models. Sonic charge microtonic keygen mac torrent. If you are a church or a professional business, consider investing in a new Leslie from a local dealer that will support you. Old cabinets often don't come with a warranty or a service organisation, and Mr. <insert name here> from three towns over will most likely not help you with a replacement Leslie for Sunday service, because the 1971 Leslie he sold you broke down at band practice Saturday afternoon. If you are looking for a dealer of new Leslie speakers, a few of them are listed in the links section of this website.
About cable interfaces
The different cable interfaces are discussed in detail in Uncle Harvey's Guide to Leslie pin-outs where I also got the different designations (6H, 6W and so on). Much has been said and written about cable interfaces for Leslies over the years. Captain Foldback has this to share:
Don't let thoughts on cable interfaces scare you out of buying a good Leslie - any Leslie can be hooked up to any organ. That being said, if you have an existing setup and would like to augment the sound with another Leslie, selecting a cabinet with the same cable interface as the one you have, will save some time and trouble.
Tube models, 2-speed
The standard Leslies that everybody know and everybody want
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 122, 122R, 122RV, 122V | 6H | 41 | The most valuble of all models, the official B-3 Leslie for most people |
| 147, 147RV | 6W | 41 | Almost as valuble as model 122 |
| 145 | 6W | 33 | Almost as valuble as model 147 |
| 142 | 6H | 33 | May cost the same as model 147 |
| 251 | 6C | 41 | 2-channel, same price range as model 142 |
| 125 | 6W | 33 | Bottom rotor only with a 12' full range speaker. Relatively inexpensive, 20W amplifier. Early versions of model 125 used the amplifier from its predecessor model 25 (see below). Later model 125 cabinets are marked 'Leslie 125'. In both cases the speaker could be obtained without an amplifier for use with spinet organs (speaker was powered by the organ's own amplifier). Model 120, 110 and 113 are all similar to model 125 but has a simpler cabinet and no amplifier. |
Tube models, 2-speed, decorator-style cabinet
The drawing room versions of the above models, with (almost) the same innards Intel 82578dc driver windows 10.
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 222, 222RV | 6H | 27 | Low boy version of 122/122RV, in a different price range (lower) than the 122. Good for parts. |
| 247, 247RV | 6W | 27 | See above |
| 245 | 6W | 33 | Here is a potentially good deal. The 245 sounds and works like a 145. If you can stand the looks of it, it's a great way to get a Leslie. |
| 242 | 6H | 33 | Another good deal, potentially. Same cabinet as model 245 - i.e. a 'decorator' style 33' cabinet. |
| 351 | 6C | 27 | Another 'decorator' Leslie. Good for the living room A-100 organ or for parts. |
| 225 | 6W | 21 | Maybe the least sought after tube 2-speed model. Good for some parts, or as an entry level speaker. This is a 'decorator' version of model 125. Best suited for spinet-sized organs. The 20W amplifier was optional. |
Solid state models, 3-speed (fast/slow/off)
If it doesn't have to be tube, check out these models. Pro-line road-friendly cabinet unless otherwise stated.
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 760 | 9 | 41 | Great speaker, great value for money. 90W amplifier. |
| 330 | 11 | 33 | Another great speaker, slightly less powerfull than the 760. A solid state version of model 145. |
| 860 | 11 | 25 | Ultra-compact but quite loud due to a 120W amplifier. Great for guitar, less great for playing pedal bass. |
| 900 | 9 | 59 | Will probably need some work, but sounds great. 2-piece cabinet. |
| 910 | 9 | 59 | Another interesting Leslie here. 2-piece Pro-line cabinet. Same specs as model 900. |
| 925 | 9 | 59 | One of the finest Leslie speakers ever designed. 2-piece Pro-line cabinet. |
| 825 | 9 | 33 | Only has the bottom rotor. Good entry-level speaker. |
| 820 | 11 | 33 | Same as above. |
| 770 | 9 | 41 | Same as model 760 but in a 41' wood cabinet like model 122 and 147. |
| 771 | 11 | 41 | Updated version of model 770, produced by Hammond-Suzuki from about 1991. In 2006, the even more powerful (300W) model 971 was introduced. |
| 130 | 11 | 33 | Special model in a decorator style cabinet with standard bottom rotor like in model 825/820 and a stationary treble speaker. Good for parts. |
Tube models, 1-speed, permanent magnet bass
These speakers were in production from about 1958 until 1963
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 22H, 22R | 6H | 41 | Single speed version of model 122. A great speaker. |
| 47 | 6W | 41 | Single speed version of model 147. |
| 45 | 6W | 33 | 'Shorty' version of model 47. Was available without the amplifer. |
| 51/51C | 6C | 41 | 2-channel. Same basic speaker as model 251 but single speed. |
| 25 | 6W | 33 | Single speed predecessor of model 125. Was available without the amplifier. |
| Note: Amplifers marked model 22H, 47 and 51C exist in two versions: One with a tube rectifier and a later with solid state rectifiers | |||
Tube models, 1-speed, field-coil (electro magnet) bass
All of these models were produced before 1958
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes Any model in this table will be at least 50 years old, if not older, so unless it was recently rebuilt it will need some work. |
| 31H | 6H | 60 | The tall boy. Great sound, especially for jazz. The most sought after of this type is the later version with Series III amplifier and the Jensen bass speaker. Cabinets with serial numbers below 5200 were originally made with an older version of tremolo control, however, many units were upgraded to the current system by Electro Music. |
| 31A | 6H | 60 | Mid-1940's predecessor to model 31H. Rare. |
| 31W | Early: Non standard Later: 6W | 60 | Same speaker as 31H with a different amplifier made to interface with Wurlitzer organs. Early cabinets of this model had a 'wide body' amplifier with a non-standard hookup and permanently attached power cord. Later 31W speakers had the 30 watt 46W amplifier |
| 21H | 6H | 41 | Another great speaker for jazz. Came with two different amplifiers: A 20W and the more desirable 30W. |
| 46W | 6W | 41 | Same speaker as model 21H but with the 30 watt 46W amplifier (same amplifier as found in later model 31W speakers) |
| 44W | 6W | 33 | 'Shorty' version of the 46W/21H concept, with a 20W amplifier. |
| 50C | 6C | 41 | Two channel speaker. The first design with 6550 output tubes. |
Solid state, roto-sonic
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 710 | 9 | 41 | Same dimensions as a model 122. Two channels - one rotary and one stationary. May be converted to work as a model 770 with donor parts, or an electronic crossover can be added to convert the speaker to single channel use. Entire upper section is exactly the same as in a model 122/147/770. Some 1970's vintage Hammond organs have a built-in interface for this type of speaker. |
| 700 | 9 | 33 | Cheaper version of model 710, without the horn, in a 'decorator' style cabinet. Not really suited for Hammond organs although it will work with the T-500 spinet and a few solid state models that followed. |
| 610 (Tube amp) | 9 | 41 | Dual roto-sonic drum speaker. Was paired with the model R-100 Hammond organ for a more theatre organ-like sound. May also be used with the older H-100 organ. Leslie model 205 is similar but has a different cabinet. |
| HL-722/HL-822 | 11 | 41 | Same concept as model 710 with updated technology. The bass channel is derived. Model 715 and 815 are variants of the same speaker in different cabinets. Other similar models are HL-422 and 415. |
| 720 | 11 | 41 | Somewhat of a speciality - the 720 does not have a roto-sonic speaker, but instead has a 10' speaker with a rotor much like in a traditional Leslie. The deepest bass tones are handled by a 15' speaker. Model 720 may be converted to single channel operation (stock configuration is 2- channel) so it will work with a Hammond organ. Cabinet is different in appearance than other Leslie models. |
| 600 | 9 non-standard | 27 | 'Low boy' or 'decorator' type speaker, 4 channels, 'space generator' reverb. |
| 750 | 11 | 41 | 4-channel speaker similar to model HL-722. |
Models to be careful about
The models below are ones to be careful of - they look like similar models suitable for Hammond organs,but their design makes them incompatible (at least for most uses). Most of these have parts that will work in other, more valuable, models so if you can get them for a song..
| Model | Interface | Height (inches) | Notes |
| 120C | 6W | 33 | Passive Leslie without amp. Looks exactly like model 120 but has a different rotor design that is unsuited for Hammond organs. |
| 112 | 6W | 33 | Passive Leslie without amp. Looks exactly like model 110 but its rotor design makes it unsuited for Hammond organs. Originally designed for the reed/complex voice channel of Gulbransen organs. |
| 114 | 6W | 33 | Same as model 112 with a different cabinet finish. |
| 830 | 9 | 33 | Looks like model 825. Has reverb and a different rotor design for complex voice instruments such as a Cordovox. |
| 55C | 6C | 41 | Special speaker made for certain models of Conn organs. Not suited for Hammonds. Some parts may be used in other models. |
| 100GK | 9 non-standard | 41 | Dual roto-sonic drum model made for Gulbransen organs. Other models in the series are the 101, 102 and 103. |
| 520 | 11 | 33 | Looks like model 720 but has no rotating parts. |
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