34 Comments
Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

I live right down the street from the Wurlitzer building where theatre organs and juke boxes were made. The building has undergone major renovations and hosts several breweries , a chocolatier and other shops . We all wish the juke boxes etc were still rolling out of there but we are happy the building is still there . Maybe Wilco could come to town and perform

At the Riviera theater! Great place with a mighty Wurlitzer organ in full operation .

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So interesting, Mike! Similarly, here in Chicago, the old Hammond Organ factory has had a rebirth in the past few years as the home to artists spaces, printers, an amazing organ repair company, and Smashed Plastic, Chicago's own record pressing plant. MassMoCA, the modern art museum in North Adams, MA where Wilco puts on our Solid Sound festivals comes from the ashes of Sprague Electric company, an old electronics component manufacturer. It's so satisfying that these old revered spaces can continue forward. I think there's something to the notion of feeling the ghosts of past greatness and want to build on that.

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

I do think so as well. Repurposed spaces retain something of the energy of former inhabitants. The same probably with instruments. Thanks for the post.

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Jan 21Liked by Mark Greenberg

Imagine all of the kids that could be learning how to play music on all of these instruments, especially in a place like North Adams where the socioeconomic structure is heartbreaking and access to such things for a majority of the demographic is but a dream, just imagine 🎶

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Jan 21·edited Jan 22Author

Thanks Dede. Interesting point. You bring up an aspect of these instruments I should have spoken more on... that they are relics from a bygone era BEFORE the prevalence of consumer level electronics and more specifically to this conversation, before the prevalence of electronic keyboards thanks to companies like Casiotone and others. In the early 70's for a kid to have their hands on a musical keyboard they would need access either to a real piano or organ or some behemoth tool like the ones shown here. So yes, back then, there was a bar that perhaps relegated such learning to a smaller more affluent demographic. But the 80's brought forth a whole new abundance of electronic keyboards, many made precisely for smaller fingers and for learning. These days any thrift store will have a multitude of electronic keyboard options most times for less that $10. The bar of access has been lowered greatly by such technology. Kids these days probably have a hard time avoiding options, to be honest. A kid's access to playing music these days isn't related to their lack of access to these types of old antiquated tools presented here. It would be like saying kids these days won't be able to learn how to design websites because they don't have access to typewriters. Part of the charm of these lovable old relics is that they are old technology from a time BEFORE cheap electronics, smartphones, and the Internet. Thanks for the comment, Dede. I hope this all eases your mind.

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Jan 21Liked by Mark Greenberg

You missed my point entirely but that's cool 🤣 🎶 sorta makes my point even sharper 🎶

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Loved this post, Mark!

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Wow, great tale, thank you!

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Very cool. Wonder Woman of Thrifting! Thanks for update on Captain. Thanks, Mark.

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Jan 21Liked by Mark Greenberg, Jeff Tweedy

The Loft seems to be fed regularly

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A healthy diet is important. :)

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Jan 21Liked by Mark Greenberg, Jeff Tweedy

Hip surgery oh my mine starts on 2/20 and 3/12 doing both very nervous about that. Glad Jeff’s went well. Nice find Susie!

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Another winner, Mark! ❤ Great story and info. I've watched the video about twenty times (former rink rat here) but now I'm going to *listen* to it most attentively and enjoy the oh so appropriate Wurlitzer!

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Jan 21Liked by Mark Greenberg, Jeff Tweedy

Deeep bow to Susie from another serial thrifter! 😊😊 Very cool! Sending <<healing vibes>> to our dear captain.

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Jan 21Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

That's an amazing find!

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

So cool. Thank you for sharing the information. Do assorted Wilcos head to the orange Wurlitzers at regular intervals to pump out some funky jams?

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

This was an excellent post before I got to the price tag and now I’m just agog. All hail Susie! Glad she didn’t have to try to fit it in the living room. Thanks Mark from someone who knows nothing about guitars - now can you explain the weird percussion add on Glenn is using on top of his drum in the recent live in studio gig?

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

They won't let us post pix here so I cued up the video to the overhead shot of it: it looks like a large ashtray filled with shakers https://youtu.be/azPw5KKUfmU?si=zdjofnbU-b-mia0R&t=252

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His MARCHING MACHINE! Yes! Will do! It’s a good one.

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Susie knows! Gotta pick that stuff when your lucky enough! Get better Jeff!!

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Good news that the surgery went well. Thank you for sharing this.

Best care indeed by Sue & co.

Mark,

Keep the puns coming. Rare indeed. I feel like I’m at MoMA looking at these. Does the Devo space ship Musitronic learning system have headphones for each student as they sit around and play ? Fascinating find by the Olympic champion!

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Yes! Headphones for all! Or, of course, six quarter inch outputs to six different amplifiers!

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Jan 20Liked by Mark Greenberg, Jeff Tweedy

Amazing!

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

Fascinating - Thanks, Mark! Great job, Susie!

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Jan 20Liked by Jeff Tweedy, Mark Greenberg

For the Win!!!

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