In 1856, Franz “Rudolph” Wurlitzer emigrated from Europe to Cincinnati and established the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., as a reseller of various types of organs — hurdy-gurdies, barrel organs and the like — made by the deKleist Musical Instrument Mfg. Co., located in North Tonawanda in upstate New York.
A half century after the company’s startup, Wurlitzer’s son, Howard, purchased Eugene deKleist’s company and the newly renamed Rudolph Wurlitzer Mfg. Co. soon became known for creating the “best musical instruments in the world.”