born Jan. 30, 1831, Schöneck, Saxony
died Jan. 14, 1914, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
German-born U.S. musical instrument manufacturer.
He immigrated to the U.S. in 1853 and with his brother founded the Wurlitzer Co. in 1872. His son Howard (18711928) introduced the innovation of automatic instruments, which led to the firm's production of self-playing organ s, electronically controlled organs, and finally the organs it is best known for, in which vibrating reeds rather than pipes produce the sound.