The First Ever Drum Machine You Could Buy - 1959 Wurlitzer Sideman

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

See this drum machine at this museum is not obsolete on the next open day which is March 26th.

[@bsadewitz]

The common electromechanical strategies used in this organ and the SxS switch that you have is something that never would have occurred to me. IMHO the zenith of electromechanical technology were the later crossbar switches.

[@WaffleStaffel]

Don't know about Wurlitzer, but Hammond used palladium contacts. I had a 1940's M3, and the contacts were all shiny. The motors are synchronous, so no brushes to wear. The only restoration they usually need is new capacitors and a good oiling. You could probably run that machine 24/7 and it would outlive you.

[@WaffleStaffel]

Fascinating video, btw. I had no idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@zman97211]

Trigger it externally, adjust the wipers to they don't actually touch the slip rings (no wear), add a pickup to send the speed of the machine, and simulate the audio (half-way - the machine makes the time, the external controller signals the notes so the sounds come from the original Wurlitzer) but the physically moving parts aren't really being used (except that continuously variable transmission that's in there).

[@zman97211]

You would still be able to see the motion, and it would still be synched with the sound.

[@bricelory9534]

I think this is an instrument that is worth preserving as a piece of history: I would say it's worth using on special days or maybe playing with live streams so it can be as preserved as possible while also enjoyed.

[@acdclexu6296]

this drum machine is absolute genious

[@MultiPetercool]

@@acdclexu6296 And Raymond Scott hacked these babies into sequencers. Not just drums but musical notes!

[@bigclivedotcom]

That sounds pretty good for the older tube/valve and EM technology. Perhaps to ration its use in the museum, put a coin mech on it so people have to put £1 in for a few minutes play time. There's probably some modern lubricant that would suit the wiping contact plate perfectly by staying in place while not getting gunky and messing with the wipers.

[@highpath4776]

white grease ?

[@KuntalGhosh]

This machine is a deoxits dream 🤣

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Hey up! Haha coin mechanism nice I hadn’t thought of this. The latest plan is a timer relay and a button on the motor. That way valves will be on all day which I’m not too fussed as luckily all still common but yeah ha. That darn disk. The idea of making a replacement while possible man that will be a few days I won’t get back like you mention lube! I am looking for pointers, currently I cleaned it then put some lube that is used on the strowger switches but I think it’s a bit thin. So yeah if anyone has any pointers for the good stuff hit me up :)

[@chrisroberts2266]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER I have one of these in bits that im refurbishing. I need to find replacement HF speaker drivers. My client also wants a balanced line output fitting which is easy enough. should probably look at it again

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

@@chrisroberts2266 does it not have a monitor output? Good luck with it. 👍👍👍👍

[@redheadsg1]

This thing needs a see-through case. It is such a marvel to look at it.

[@danpatterson8009]

Exactly what I was thinking. Agree that running it all the time invites wear and breaking things you might not be able to replace, so maybe make video loops of it running and have it on static display, firing it up only for special occasions, like Tiger 131 at the Tank Museum.

[@danosdotnl]

and some piezo mics haha what a beatssss

[@hschieck]

@@danpatterson8009 In addition to having a looped video running to demonstrate the moving parts in action, you might also feature a touchscreen showing the original controls and letting the user operate the on-screen buttons, while playing sampled versions of the sounds and patterns.

[@samjones4570]

100%!👍🏻👍🏻

[@stheil]

Yeah the beauty of electromechanical devices is that you can actually *see* them working. Would be a shame to hide that!

[@brandonmotivator3895]

OMG!!! We had one of these when I was a kid! My father picked it up at a yard sale and kept it in the garage so it wouldn't drive my mom nuts when we used to play with it. Wow, haven't heard those sounds in decades but I still remember them. Thanks for resurrecting some good memories!

[@lenaschumann6735]

Amazing, what someone had realy seen this and listen to it. So it is not an unicorn.

[@organfairy]

The speed selector is combined with the on/off switch so that the rubber drive wheel is always away from the metal wheel when the unit is off. Many reel-to-reel tape recorders used a similar combination of speed and on/off switch. The reason is that the rubber wheel will get deformed if it is left pressed against the metal wheel if it isn't rotating. I also noticed that the multi relay is actually a converted organ air valve - but that makes sense since Wurlitzer was a theatre organ maker for many years.

[@rich1668]

Thanks for sharing that is really interesting

[@danosdotnl]

many belt drive record players actually use belt to drive a rubber wheel as well, for the same reasons (33/45/78 selector, and maybe also pitch in some models)

[@jankcitycustoms]

it's also how most wheel drives on snowblowers work. reverse is when you move the rubber wheel past the middle of the big disk.

[@turtmastert3545]

@@jankcitycustoms that's exactly what I was thinking too, snowblower drive wheel, as soon as I saw it.

[@DaveCornutt]

EM integrating calculators worked that way too. As the parameter being integrated increased, the rubber drive wheel moved towards the inside of the metal wheel.

[@MrJozza65]

I love these mechanical contraptions. Whoever came up with that must have been genius on the verge of insanity!

[@paulyearley1084]

For 1950s engineering, this is WILD

[@3DPeter]

@@paulyearley1084 I love this machine because i never ever saw one before and didn't even know that it excisted, but a jukebox from the same era already had way more mechanical parts, so they were way more complicated than this machine, and that's why they so collectable and expensive.

[@Craftlngo]

the orange Sticker on the inside (at 05:15) is in German and is saying that you only should operate it on a Receptacle with Groundwire and open the Case only when it's properly detached. The manufacturer was Wurlitzer Germany. So I guess it's good old German genius combined with a touch of insanity.

[@davidpetersonharvey]

I have to compliment on making your videos more child friendly. You have s great market for your videos and museums with families and kids. Your personality is also very attractive to the young ones. Wishing you every success. Your channel provides a good service.

[@dwindeyer]

I would say this sounds better than expected, but I honestly didn't know what to expect out of a 50s tube and capacitor drum machine.

[@AndyFletcherX31]

I'm really impressed by the quality of the sounds coming out of it. I'd love to see the schematic for the valve section.

[@skaneverdies]

It's kind of amazing how much this sounds like any other analog drum machine, all the way up through the 90s!

[@simonlockett9152]

you need your ears tested bro

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

Who would think an analog drum machine would sound like an analog drum machine?

[@cpfs936]

It was surprisingly good for it's time. Unfortunately, onboard rhythm sections didn't advance much for decades after.

[@beaufighter245]

Are you including the Roland TR range?

[@tA_aT287]

Only difference is price range... the first drum machine....$25,000.

[@GadgetUK164]

Wow, what a wonderful piece of old music tech! How on earth did that survive until now - it's huge!!!

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

yeah! apparently most got chucked out cus of broken belts!

[@dykodesigns]

The sound of this drummachine reminds of the rythm part of Blondie’s Heart Of Glass. It sounds so similar. The electromechanical design is quite novel. Once seen the mechanisms of a jukebox on Technology Connections. There’s a lot you can do with mechanical solutions that we just wouldn’t think of anymore in the computer age.

[@jaggass]

In the 60's/70's drum machines were transistor based and produced similar sounds.

[@stinkymart3173]

Roland CR-78, same machine used as the base layer of drums on Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight

[@Muzikman127]

Makes me think of the intro to Ann Peebles's "I can't stand the rain"

[@brentpalmer9800]

@@stinkymart3173 ...And "Hiroshima Mon Amour" by Ultravox.

[@tobyCornish]

The title on the thumbnail, "It's all weird mechanisms and vacuum tubes," could be an alternate title for this channel

[@VJFranzK]

7:25 this rotating mechanism is a beautiful thing to watch! (When step sequencers were programmed with solder.)

[@magicspiral]

What a madly complicated piece of delightful engineering.

[@charlestimmons604]

I have to say I've never been a fan of the early organ pre set beats. Call me weird but it's like hearing all the worst parts of the swinging 60s. The individual drum tones however are pretty cool. Thank you for taking a few moments to jam out on it!

[@hoggboyy]

One think I love about these old mechanicals synths is that the mechanical noise is as much a part of the sound of the instrument as the electronically generated tones.

[@spazimdam]

Wow what an incredibly cool old piece of kit you've got there Sam! It's so retro, perfectly suited for the museum. Tubes, electro-mechanical sequencing, built in amp and speakers, and it's by Wurlitzer! And that 24 ganged rotary switch! Too much man. I'm jealous. Have fun!

[@DJAvren]

What an absolutely stunning machine. Sad to say I saw (part of) this video via a rip on Facebook, but I recognised you and sped my way over here to say hi and thank you for showing this.

[@OliveRC-Addict]

this machine is f*****g amazing dude !!!! never see that before :)

[@augustwest01]

So cool to come to one of your videos from a Hackaday article instead of my usual KZbin feed! You're a person of amazing talents and are very deserving of the recognition!

[@angaudlinn]

The Sideman is one of the few preset drum machines I've been keeping my eyes open for. That kick is juicy! :)

[@functionSam]

That drum machine could be used during special events/special days at the Museum where you could say "Hey everyone, at this specific day & at this specific time we will turn on this super old drum machine!". This way you could use it as part of marketing the Museum?

[@TiberianFiend]

I think the stuff they figured out how to do without computers is way more impressive than computer-controlled instruments.

[@kurtzwar729]

Great machine. Love the tube sounds. It is fully electromechanical and should be run to keep it running. My Hammond B3 organ needs the same, but I have an organ repair shop nearby in case.

[@ThatMusicGuyAu]

The fact this uses common tubes is great. No rummaging through surplus stores trying to find long obsolete boxes and hoping they still work.

[@HipHopElectronicDotCom]

Wicked! If this was the only thing at this museum is not obsolete I'd still go out of my way to get there!

[@System.10]

Amazing machine! I can't believe it works perfectly after all this time. The sounds are also pretty impressive, considering the age of this unit. It actually sounds very similar to analog drum machines of the 70s!

[@lovelyboylondon]

Brilliant mate. YT recommended this. Took me 5 minutes to subscribe. Love your enthusiasm and energy. I feel a massive binge watch coming on.

[@5pr1nk57]

Ahh that's a feat of engineering to behold! I was curious about that when I saw it in the boot! Hope the synth is coming along nicely if you've had time to check it? 😁

[@ludakriss9094]

You're quite the powerhouse of enthusiasm. A pleasure to watch.

[@SeamlessR]

that circuitry is insane. Do you think that style of wiring had a visual impact on scifi? it looks kinda old school space techhy ;D

[@convolution223]

I would suspect it was engineered by someone who just started engineering, or was everything back then so primitive?

[@GORF_EMPIRE]

@@convolution223 That is called point to point wiring. It was the norm and for some modern tube amps it still is.

[@alexmcrobb6616]

@@convolution223 That's just how it was done back then.

[@michaelcandido2824]

Reminds me of the early computer machines at Bletchley park

[@GORF_EMPIRE]

@@alexmcrobb6616 Yes and there is a certain elegance to it, not to mention its ease of repair.

[@evilAshTheDog]

Once in a great while, KZbin suggests a video/channel for me. Today the algorithm worked! This was a real pleasure to watch. Thank you!

[@rich1668]

Awesome machine, I always find it impressive how they made this kind of thing before the days of micro controllers. It actually sounds quite similar to the built in drum machines on old electric organs.

[@busted_keys]

Awesome demo as always. I had the pleasure of demonstrating and recording one of these myself. The tech at the museum I worked at added a line out to it since the speaker was quite cracked and frappy. It still sounded amazing. The mechanical sequencer was fun to watch but it really sounded cool when you played the sounds manually and exploited the spurious noise of the 70 + year-old switch contacts. I took apart an old Electrohome brand organ in HS that had a minaturized (but still tube) version of this same getup squeezed into the back with the controls mounted by the lower manual. I wish 16 year old me had the wherewithal to save it!

[@Yoda8945]

That really brings back memories. We used to sell those in the family music store in the 60's. If I remember correctly, they were quite expensive, about $425.

[@beeldbuijs1003]

Quite expensive for the sixties, indeed.

[@CaptianInternet]

Thank you for showing this piece of history. It is amazing to see. And Great presentation style by the way, love it.

[@cypherdras]

amazing machine, once in the museum you need to put it in a Perspex case. maybe add a timer so it can only be turned on for 5 mins every 15 or something to save the moving parts.

[@andythedishwasher1117]

Love what you're doing with this channel. There's not only a huge market but also a massive professional playground for integrating old synth tech with new synth tech. The trick is getting your hands on the old synth tech since so many people are learning what it's capable of these days. However, I'd rather people learn the value of it and drive up the price than let it rot in basements or major label studio closets.

[@bad.sector]

That sounds actually good for its time! One idea about tear & wear: This looks like it could be replaced by a custom PCB... so when it's worn out, just get a new one made!

[@michaeldeloatch7461]

You have earned my sub and made my day merely by showing the world that 24-gang rotary switch. I have twirled a lot of knobs in my five dozen spins around the sun, but I bow in reverence to that mother of all input devices!

[@ukuleletyke]

That’s brilliant. Would be interesting to see those sounds on a ‘scope- I’d love to know what type of circuitry was used to make them.

[@paulussantosociwidjaja4781]

So FUN. I played the 2 manual plus little extra mini manual keys Wurtlizer Organ belonged to my old friend in the olden days, but for rhythm we were using Roland flat bed box with touch start stop metal. Forgot all of the models. Phew! Memories are made of these and so happy if we still can find people keeping those olden days musical technology.

[@digitaldobbie]

All that modular kit that you have in your soundlab will eventually open a portal to another universe where metalica will ask you for their Wurlitzer drum machine back.

[@5pr1nk57]

😂😂

[@StephenMcLeod]

This is wild. I'll need to to make it down to the museum at some point.

[@firebearva]

Almost as old as I am (70) and it's still going respectfully strong. Would I run it constantly? I think not. It would be a shame to see this one time state-of-the-art musical instrument succumb to an untimely demise.

[@tomlangley6236]

This is one of the coolest pieces of equipment that you have ever featured!

[@UmmmmmmmWhat]

Well, i could see Lars being worried about his job, but most other drummers are probably safe...

[@annother3350]

Yeh but it wont be long before they're demanding welfare cheques and equal rights

[@DuceIRae]

there was one of these at my local guitar center a few months ago. I was playing with it.. pretty cool peace of history!

[@KonJonnorMusic]

Keep your 808s..this is where its at

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

ha

[@Flako-dd]

7:04 *You used to call me on my cell phone Late-night when you need my love * 🎶

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

Did I?

[@Flako-dd]

@@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER sorry got you mixed up with Drake 😂

[@danielmendes5682]

those THT leg solder is so nerve racking yet so æsthetically pleasing! makes me wonder how much EMI this circuitry captured due to the ammount of exposed metal

[@westelaudio943]

Obviously not much because you don't hear a lot of hum. Everything is well shielded by the chassis ground plane. Tube amps for guitar and hifi are often still built like this by the way. There are kits from China as well so you can try yourself.

[@1harryrobert]

That machine is absolutely fantastic. A mixture of thermionic valves, discrete components & a spinning device which reminds me of an old uni-selector from Strowger telephone exchanges

[@cryptotex420]

Beautiful tone, they nailed it on the first one! Worth preserving and playing sparingly.

[@Qwerty1235945]

This is one of the most fascinating channels on KZbin. Brilliant work, thank you

[@drangus3468]

It's a machine that needs to be seen in action! Have it play at the top of every hour for a minute or 2 demo. You said it's pretty repairable, and even if not, let it go out in a blaze of glory doing what it loves.

[@GrumpyTim]

What a machine!!! As a drummer, synth lover and fan of anything old and mechanical / electro mechanical, this is the most brilliant machine I've ever seen - I want one!!!!! The sounds are so cool too, totally brilliant video.

[@ianhd9396]

Thank you! I have only heard of this legendary beast. I feel you would be the best person to source awesome samples from. Physically re-amp your stuff in real time, use a good mic, and just sample directly into a 12-bit platform.

[@MrAsBBB]

Just found your channel a minute ago, this is a great piece of hardware. It’s doing the same thing you could pick up from Argos a few years ago. This was so ahead of it’s time.

[@soundsofoscillators]

Oh man those buttons and pots look sooo sweet

[@zh84]

The small wheel driving the big one at varying speeds is a back-to-front version of what was used in an instrument called a differential analyser, a type of early analogue computer. In that the big wheel is driven and the little wheel is the output. Suppose we have a graph representing the speed of an object: if we make the position of the small wheel follow the graph, so that it moves to the outside of the wheel (faster) when the speed is higher and the inside when the speed is slower, then the distance turned by the wheel is proportional to the distance the object travels.

[@ACoustaDC]

That this so great! I love the way it works and the way it's made... pretty servicable.

[@JetSetDiva]

The world needs a 1959 Wurlitzer Sideman sound pack for musicians.

[@danjwalker]

Congrats on the 1/2 million subs! Been watching for years!

[@PuchMaxi]

The speed control is very reminiscent of that found on a snow blower friction wheel and disc. Pretty neat!

[@display8580]

It must have been mind blowing to see the inventor knocking out breakbeats on that back in the 50s

[@dylannoalan615]

That is sooooo cool! I'm gonna have to fly in from America just to check out this museum.

[@sgsax]

Crazy that this thing just works so well after all this time. That circuit board is a work of art, and electro-mechanical systems are always a treat. Love the idea of using it remotely. Perhaps you could add a switch for the rotary section to turn it on and off at will. Thanks for sharing!

[@glade_maker]

What a machine!!! Thanks for the show!

[@OldSkoolF]

I love this guys ideas!!!! Such cool old rescue!

[@TechHippie]

Inventers/scientists/innovators in the 40s and 50s were a different breed. I love seeing anything from that era on the inside because it's either bizarrely simple or totally mindblowingly complicated like this.

[@ChristopherKempNOLA]

What a fantastic device! Thanks for posting this

[@greentelly280]

Seriously Sam, it's probably one on the most mindblowing machine I've seen so far in your videos (my opinion) just because of the engineering creativity of this thing. Even though the synth makers were already quite experienced at the time, what a lot of effort and candor it probably required to make it alive at a "non-internet" age. The circuit scuplture is by itself something... (while being not unusual at the time !)

[@stevemann9821]

My father had one of these sitting next to his Wurlitzer spinet organ when I was a kid. It really sounded amazing.

[@G-zero07]

I’ve got into so many dope things because of this channel 😂, soon as I’m lookin for sum exactly what I wanna watch pops up, love the channel

[@SteveMaggioncalda]

GLORIOUS! Thanks for the brilliant walk-through.

[@floretion]

Ok, the sound was much more interesting than I was expecting. Great explanation as always.

[@brianspenst1374]

For fun history on the Wurlitzer accessories, look up the Wurlitzers ran by the now defunct pizza place called The Organ Grinder. We had one in Portland Oregon, US. It had an organ with every musical accessory available. It was an amazing experience in person.

[@timhowes7088]

Few vids on YT have had me gaping in admiration... This thing is utterly genius bonkers - who couldn't love that!

[@Ungtartog]

Wow! This is cool as all hell! And you are making this thing INTERACTIVE?! BAD ASS!

[@JuliaGarbe1]

This video is so cool. That speed mechanism is so smart, love it!

[@flaviowilner1288]

Congratulations for this new item. Intriguing machine.

[@kamikazekev]

Love this channel.. always learning something. You're the best

[@paulmanningremixes6408]

The timbres and textures the Sideman could muster, however limited, fall into a sonic space all of their own. There’s something innocent and magical about these early instruments and devices. These lovely old beasts are totally free of the cliches and predictability of today’s offerings, which will always struggle somewhat to break away from classic drum machine paradigm we’ve all become accustomed to. Don’t get me wrong, a snappy 808, and even a cheesy Yamaha DD10 still give one pearls, but there’s something unexplainably special about these old sounds. It’s similar to the sonic differences between something well known and identifiable like the sound of a Moog or a modern supersaw-y pluck, compared to the haunting, otherworldly sound of Friedrich Trautwein’s Trautonium, or the more well known Theramin. Another brilliant video Sam, thanks for all the efforts you put into these projects

[@michaelkeller5270]

Absolutely Amazing for it's time! Needs a see-thru case!

[@habichiblah7534]

I've been smiling and laughing away all through this video - absolutely brilliant - pure joy.

[@snikeplassken]

That was my vision of future high-tech when I was a kid. And I’m still impressed! Thx!

[@Colin_Ames]

What an absolutely fascinating piece of hardware. I agree with the idea of making a clear case for it.

[@BachikoiBabi]

I love the idea of this museum so much! I wish I lived closer so I could come visit!

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

It's such a beauty. Please leave it as it. Just a clear perspex box to show it but when played for special occasions, do it with its original wooden box which certainly plays a huge role in the sound quality - like a loudspeaker's cabinet.

[@MrLurker906]

This thing sounds lovely, so much fun!

[@kfl611]

I thought you'd be dancing while the drum machine did its thing ! I wanted to see you bust a move! Great video, thanks for posting.

[@MisterRorschach90]

Man the genius ingenuity of engineers and inventors back then was just out of this world.

[@wmason1961]

Love the beautiful rotary switch. We have some old ones like that at work. They control an old printing press. They will probably get retired soon.

[@manoffunk]

Fantastic! What a wonderful piece of kit

[@ballhawk387]

Fascinating! Was very surprised at how versatile it is and how good the sounds are - though valve (tube) anything tends to sound good. Must have cost a royal family's ransom back then.

[@jimmyjohn4473]

For what it's worth, your museum is the only thing I know of in England that I want to see.

[@renemunkthalund3581]

1:48 Appreciating the Kentish Doug DeMuro 🎹 🏎

[@Beansbeens]

This is amazing! I never would have thought something like this could come from 1959. Just Wow:)