Musical instrument maker, born in Schöneck, Germany. He emigrated to the USA (1853) and continued the family business of manufacturing musical instruments. He founded a factory in Cincinnati producing band instruments for military use (1861), adding a branch in Chicago (1865). The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company was formed (1890), and he served as president (1890--1912) and chairman (1912--14). Three sons, Howard Eugene (1871--1928), Rudolph Henry (1873--1948), and Farny Reginald (1883--1972), successively held these posts, during which time the company expanded in the field of automatic and coin-operated instruments, notably the famous "Mighty Wurlitzer" theatre organ.