The Wurlitzer Company was founded in 1856 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer. Initially, the company focused on importing and selling musical instruments from Europe, but soon expanded into manufacturing their own instruments. By the early 20th century, Wurlitzer had become one of the largest and most successful manufacturers of pianos, organs, and jukeboxes in the world. They also produced other products such as radios, phonographs, and even vending machines. The company's success continued until the mid-20th century when changing consumer preferences and the rise of electronic instruments