Rudolph Wurlitzer
German (from Schöneck, Saxony)
Biography
Rudolph Wurlitzer came from a family of musical-instrument makers who had pursued that art for generations in the small town of Schöneck, Saxony, and landed in New York about 1854. Like many young German emigrants arriving without means but with a thorough education and expert knowledge of his trade, he struggled at first before finding his footing in Cincinnati, where he established himself as an importer of musical instruments in 1856. With youthful enthusiasm and optimism he overcame the obstacles facing a businessman who must earn his own capital, gradually climbing until he was recognized as a power by his contemporaries. In 1890 his eldest son Howard was admitted to partnership. A portrait photograph of Rudolph Wurlitzer accompanies the text.
Highlights
- Came from a family of musical-instrument makers of Schöneck, Saxony, who had pursued the trade for generations
- Landed in New York about 1854 and established himself as an importer of musical instruments in Cincinnati in 1856
- Built the business up from nothing until recognized as a power by his contemporaries
Source
Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911).
Public domain.