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

Today we take a look at the Wurlitzer Sideman, the first Commercially Released #Drum Machine.
Download the wav of the samples from this machine and much much more :- / lookmumnocomputer
it also makes @THIS MUSEUM IS (NOT) OBSOLETE get bigger and better.
Shoutout to ‪@thenervoussquirrel‬ for egging me on to get this. blame him!!!
------------
THIS MUSEUM IS (NOT) OBSOLETE next open day March 26th :-
this-museum-is-not-obsolete.com/
-------
List of Gear/Electronics I USE :-
www.lookmumnocomputer.com/stu...
------------
Some great videos on the wurlitzer sideman here :-
/ darrrsha
------------
THANKUS HUMUNGOUSO to :-
CoFFeeTaBLesE
David Dolphin
casey
Miles Flavel
Scott Armstrong
worldofchris
Casey
MattFollowell (PDP-7)
Nicole LArett
-------------
if you want to donate to the electronic component fund! Paypal :-
www.paypal.me/lookmumnocomputer
-------------
SPOTIFY :- bit.ly/LMNCSpotify
Facebook :- / lookmumnocomputer
Website :- www.lookmumnocomputer.com
Instagram :- / lookmumnocomputer

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@TiberianFiend]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@angaudlinn]

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

[@JetSetDiva]

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

[@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.

[@OliveRC-Addict]

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

[@display8580]

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

[@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!

[@samueleinheri96]

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?

[@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.

[@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.)

[@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!

[@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!

[@russellzauner]

Every time you show something I suddenly need a thing I didn't even know existed

[@russellzauner]

also this would be great to model as a plug in

[@johanmalm8378]

Absoltely go for a clear case, a beauty like that should not be hidden.

[@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.

[@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? 😁

[@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.

[@soundsofoscillators]

Oh man those buttons and pots look sooo sweet

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@ludakriss9094]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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]

😂😂

[@stevemann9821]

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

[@manoffunk]

Fantastic! What a wonderful piece of kit

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@CaptianInternet]

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

[@KonJonnorMusic]

Keep your 808s..this is where its at

[@LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER]

ha

[@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.

[@ChristopherKempNOLA]

What a fantastic device! Thanks for posting this

[@MisterRorschach90]

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

[@kamikazekev]

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

[@SteveMaggioncalda]

GLORIOUS! Thanks for the brilliant walk-through.

[@glade_maker]

What a machine!!! Thanks for the show!

[@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!

[@OldSkoolF]

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

[@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!

[@MrLurker906]

This thing sounds lovely, so much fun!

[@michaelkeller5270]

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

[@ACoustaDC]

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

[@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.

[@floretionguru2977]

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

[@Qwerty1235945]

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

[@flaviowilner1288]

Congratulations for this new item. Intriguing machine.

[@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!

[@cryptotex420]

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

[@magicspiral3323]

What a madly complicated piece of delightful engineering.

[@tomlangley6236]

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

[@owensspace]

WOW!!!! That thing is so cool! And sounds so cool!!!

[@JuliaGarbe1]

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

[@danniistimemachine8745]

Great stuff Sam! Love your work and love your channel! This is such a cool device!

[@TheBeltwayBandits]

Love what your doing!!!

[@jimmyjohn4473]

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

[@joeli2227]

This is absolutely wonderful.

[@cigarboxguitar9519]

Absolutely amazing!

[@timmartin8191]

Your channel is so fun to watch!

[@habichiblah7534]

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

[@dylanknollenberg4615]

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

[@thesadwolf]

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

[@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

[@williammanganaro9070]

This is so amazing. I love it !! This is a very important piece of history.

[@snikeplassken]

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

[@Nogitaman]

Oh wow! Fascinating!!

[@69dblcab]

Cool. Thanks for sharing it.

[@myousickoflife]

So cool this makes me love my Wurlitzer 200a so much more!

[@cucucuchetecucuhete4096]

Amazing Channel, amazing videos!

[@stoatystoat174]

super intersting, amazing what the cooked up with basic ingredients, thanks for showing

[@smbeetz]

Never seen something like this before. thanks for introducing

[@Ungtartog]

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

[@infn8loopmusic]

OMG the sound of this is 💯 awesome and the engineering is just WOW. thanks for such an in depth look at this crazy piece of history

[@BachikoiBabi]

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

[@RetroCabeza]

That sound very Devo! Fascinating stuff 👌

[@UnionParkPlumbing]

Keep up all the hard work man!

[@kimmy_future4265]

yes! i've always wanted a good deep dive into these things!

[@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!

[@MannyKoum]

such a mesmerizing machine.

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Congratulations on 500k dude also a sample kit for this would be awesome.

[@Hungry_Hunter]

I just love this steam analogue hollow state gear. What a work of art.

[@jkuebler89]

Ah I have always loved this thing. So interesting. Glad you have it to share. Wish I could come to the UK. Someday. Nice work Sam.