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T H E
A MICA
www.amica.org
BULLETIN
AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTORS’ ASSOCIATION
is tm a s
r f the Player Piano
r y C h
Mer the History o
sents
AMICA Pre
Volume 58, Number 6 - November / December 2021
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496 First Street, Solvang California 93463
Open Seven Days a Week 10-6
Ron & Julie Palladino • 805-452-5700
www.renantiques.com • info@renantiques.com
VOLUME 58, Number 6 November/December 2021
AMICA BULLETIN
FEATURES
Nickel Notes: The History of the Player Piano by Matt Jaro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Display and Classified Ads
Articles for Publication
The Belgian Dance Organ Builders by Tom Meijer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Letters to the Publisher
Allen Velthoen: Replicating the Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Chapter News
Building Pipes for a New Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ by Bruce Newman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 UPCOMING PUBLICATION
DEADLINES
Three Magnificent Florida Mechanical Music Collections by Glenn Thomas . . . . . . . . . 29
The ads and articles must be received
A Documentary: The Resurrection of Madam Laura by Vincent Astor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 by the Publisher on the 1st of the
Christmas in Advertising by Glenn Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Odd number months:
January July
AMICA 2021 Annual Board Meeting Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 March September
May November
Bulletins will ordinarily be mailed in the 1st
week of the even months, for expected
delivery mid-month.
COLUMNS Glenn Thomas, Publisher
Editorial Observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 165 Kildee Rd.
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Belle Mead, NJ 08502
Phone: 908-431-0490
The President’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 e-mail: wurlitzer165@gmail.com
In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
TJ’s Notes from the Bay: Notes on a Recording of a Dying Carousel by TJ Fisher . . . . 47
Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Mechanical Music Restoration and Resource Registry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Membership Dues:
USA Bulk Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60.00
USA First Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.00
Overseas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75.00
Canada-Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $70.00
Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00
Front Cover: The magnificent front cover of the World War I era December 8, 1917 “Music Trades” (pdf version only)
magazine offer a gorgeous gateway to ‘greetings of the season’ and our feature article, “The
Address changes and corrections
History of the Player Piano” by Matt Jaro.
Directory information updates
Additional copies of
AMICA’s new permanent legal mailing address is: Member Directory . . . . . . . $25.00
AMICA Single copies of back issues ($10.00 per -
340 S. Lemon Ave. # 6408 issue – based upon availability)
Walnut, CA 91789 Lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirsky
USA 416 Colfax Drive
San Jose, CA 95123-3403
408-227-9284
This address is for official purposes only, such as legal notices, ownership of Internet Protocol, website membership@amica.org
registrations, IRS and State of California purposes, and other legal notices. To ensure timely delivery of your
All other communications go as usual, to those charged with handling their respective responsibilities, BULLETIN, please allow 6-weeks advance
such as Membership Secretary, Treasurer, book sales and shipments, and publications notice of address changes.
Entire contents © 2021 AMICA International AMICA Bulletin - November/December
Printed by Engler Printing Co.,2021
Fremont, OH • engler@englerprinting.com
3
AMICA INTERNATIONAL
– INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS –
PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT EDITOR
Joel Cluskey Alan Turner Glenn Thomas
677 Fruithurst Drive 148 Kingsway Avenue 165 Kildee Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3M Belle Mead, NJ 08502
412-779-0740 0H1 908-431-0490
ampico2018@gmail.com 204-489-3075 wurlitzer165@gmail.com
duo-art@mts.net
VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER
Michael Walter Paul Hempel
65 Running Brook Drive PO Box 1358
Lancaster, NY 14086-3314 Gold Beach, OR 97444-1358
716-912-0283 617-803-5495
mikew_14086@yahoo.com paulthempel@gmail.com
SECRETARY MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Bob and Bonnie Gonzalez Lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirsky
26 Foremast Cove 416 Colfax Drive
Corte Madera, CA 94925 San Jose, CA 95123-3403
415-924-6834 408-502-6019
bobsrags@gmail.com membership@amica.org
– COMMITTEES –
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE CONVENTION COORDINATOR
Glenn Thomas Frank Nix
165 Kildee Road 6030 Oakdale Ave.
Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Woodland Hills, CA 91367
908-431-0490 818-884-6849
wurlitzer165@gmail.com nixmusic7811@att.net
WEBSITE MANAGER AMICA HONOR ROLL
Michael Falco Tim Baxter
518 Boxwood Drive 939 Briarcliff Rd NE
East Yaphank, NY 11967 Atlanta, GA 30306-4664
631-834-3244 404-377-1220
websitemeister@outlook.com baxdig@mindspring.com
4 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021
AMICA INTERNATIONAL
CHAPTER OFFICERS
FOUNDING CHAPTER LADY LIBERTY SOWNY (Southern Ontario,Western New York)
Pres: John Ulrich Pres: Marie Beemish Pres: Glenn Roat
Vice Pres: Roy Powlan Vice Pres: Vincent Morgan - 718-479-2562 glennroat@yahoo.com
Sec: Unfilled Sec: Andrew Lardieri Vice Pres: Larry Weingartner
Treas: Lyle Merithew & Sandy Swirsky Treas: Maryam C. Morgan Sec: Shirley Roat
Board Rep: Bob Gonzales Reporter: Martin “Buzz” Rosa glennroat@yahoo.com
Reporter: Bob & Bonnie Gonzalez Board Rep: Vincent and Maryam Morgan Treas: Holly Walter
bballmomma99@yahoo.com
Reporter: Mike Walter
BOSTON AREA MIDWEST (OH, MI, IN, KY) mikew@yahoo.com
Pres: Bill Koenigsberg Pres: Don Johnson - 248-650-1840 Board Rep: Holly Walter
Vice-Pres: Barry Kasindorf bodon@worldnet.att.net
Sec: Kirk Russell Vice Pres: Bob Andersen SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
russellmusicco@aim.com Sec: Liz Barnhart Pres and Reporter: Diane DeTar
Treas: Chris Christiansen Treasurer Emeritus: Alvin Wulfekuhl Vice Pres: Wayne Johnston
Reporter: Phyllis Konop Chapter Treasurer: Gary Rasmussen Treas: Diane Reidy
Reporter: Christy Counterman Board Rep.: Frank Nix
Board Rep: Liz Barnhart Photographer: Lowell Boehland
CHICAGO AREA
Pres: Margaret Bisberg
Vice Pres: Richard Van Metre NORTHERN LIGHTS (MN, ND, SD) TEXAS
rdecanter@aol.com Manitoba, Northern Ontario Pres: Bob Stewart
Sec: Rob DeLand Pres: Gary Goldsmith Vice Pres: Wade Newton
Treas: Paul Mayer gary.goldsmith@bussegardens.com Treas: Jim Quashnock
Reporter: Wynette Edwards Vice Pres: Don Barton Secretary: Jim Quashnock
wynettedwards@gmail.com bartonpianos@gmail.com Bulletin Reporter: Annette Stewart
Board Rep: TBD Treas: Gary Goldsmith Board Rep.: Bob Stewart
Reporter: Gary Goldsmith
HEART OF AMERICA
President: Mike Schoeppner PACIFIC CAN-AM
ms-ss@swbell.net, 816-767-9766 Pres: Rob Reid robreid62@gmail.com
Vice President: Ken & Virginia Filardo Vice Pres: Carl Dodrill
Secretary: Bob Stout, stoutpiano@yahoo.com Secretary: Halie Dodrill
816-833-1556 Treas: Robert Wilson
Treasurer: Greg Moffitt Reporter: Michael Metcalfe
Reporter: Dan Davis Board Rep.: Bruce Newman
Board Rep: By appointment
AFFILIATED SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) Carousel Organ Association of America Musical Box Society International Player Piano Group
Donna Parker, Membership Secretary Editor/Publisher: Ron Bopp Russell Kasselman, Editor Player Piano Group
P.O. Box 6491 (918) 527-0589 3420 Edgewood Drive Benjamin Ely (Secretary)
Aloha, Oregon 97007-0491 4725 Montrose Dr., Bradenton, FL, 34210 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 184 Severalls Avenue, Chesham, Buckingham-
E-mail: d.parker@atos.org. rbopp1@tampabay.rr.com Phone: (805) 439-1934 shire, HP5 3EN, England.
Cell/Text: (253) 228-1634 E-mail: secretary@playerpianogroup.org.uk
Theatre Organ Friends of Scott Joplin E-Mail: russell@irondogmedia.com
Co-Editors – Mike Bryant and Don Feely 1217 St. Croix Ct. Website: www.irondogmedia.com Schweizer Freunde Mechanischer Musik
Editorial Office Kirkwood, MO 63122-2326 (SFMM)
3111 NE 165th Pl. Website: http//stlouis.missouri.org/fsjoplin Netherlands Mechanical Organ Society-KDV Peter Both
Vancouver, WA 98682 E-mail: fsjoplin@stlouis.missouri.org A. T. Meijer President
Phone: 206-619-6645 Zevenbladhof 43, Steinmaurstrasse 15
E-Mail: editor@atos.org Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum 4461 ZR Goes, Netherlands 8173 Neerach
180 Thompson St. peter.both@sfmm.ch
Associazione Italiana Musica Meccanica North Tonawanda, NY 14120 Northwest Player Piano Association www.sfmm.ch
Villa Silvia - Via Lizzano, 1241 P: (716) 693-1885 | F: (716) 743-9018 Everson Whittle, Secretary Phone: +41 79 253 4038
47023 Cesena (FC), Italy Email: info@carrouselmuseum.org 11 Smiths Road, Darcy Lever,
Phone: 0039-547-323425 facebook.com/herschellmuseum Bolton BL3 2PP, Gt. Manchester, England Smithsonian Institution
Fax: 0039-547-661264 Home Phone: 01204 529939 Division of Musical History
E-mail: info@ammi-italia.com International Piano Archives at Maryland Business Phone: 01772 208003 Washington, D.C. 20560
Website: www.ammi-italia.com Performing Arts Library,University of Maryland E-mail: nwppa@hotmail.com
2511 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Society For Self-Playing Musical Instruments
Australian Collectors of Mechanical Musical College Park, MD 20742 Reed Organ Society Gesellschaft fur Selbstspielende
Instruments Phone:301-405-9224 Jim Tyler, Editor, Musikinstrumente (GSM) E.V.
Peter Phillips - Editor Fax: 301-314-7170 E-mail: organs@bdcsi.net Ralf Smolne, President
26 Alice Street E-mail: dml37@umail.umd.edu Emmastr. 56
Padstow, NSW 221, Australia Organ Historical Society D-45130 Essen, Germany
Phone: (612) 9773-4734 International Vintage Phono & Mechanical Rollin Smith, Editor, The Tracker Phone: **49-201-784927
E-mail: eleced@idx.com.au Music Society E-mail: abrs@verizon.net Fax :**49-201-7266240
C.G. Nijsen, Secretaire General E-mail: president@musica-mechanica.de
Netherlands Pianola Association 19 Mackaylaan Pianola Institute
Nederlandse Pianola Vereniging 5631 NM Eindhoven, Netherlands Clair Cavanagh, Secretary
Att. Jan van Hulzen, Member of the Board 43 Great Percy St., London WC1X 9RA, England
Chopinrode 25 Musical Box Society of Great Britain
2717 BH Zoetermeer, Netherlands Alison Biden
E-Mail: info@pianolavereniging.nl St Giles Hilltop, Northbrook Close
Winchester, Hants.
SO23 0JR, UK
E-Mail: ali_biden@hotmail.com
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 5
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS AMICA’s Board Meeting was held as a video conference Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. See Joel Cluskey’s President’s Corner in this issue for more information. Also, all relevant Board annual reports and documents are published here. AMICA believes full transparency is very important. Please take time to review these documents which should be quite helpful in giving you an even greater window to AMICA. We held final release of this issue to the printer so we could include late complete Board Meeting detail. Questions and comments are welcome. ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ The Evolution of the Player Piano researched and detailed by Matt Jaro’s “Nickel Notes” is a fascinating illustrated story of the history of the player piano from the earliest “push-up” vorsetzer style in 1876 to about 100 years later with the “key-top” player. AMICA stalwarts will revel in this marvelous story. Tom Meijer, an occasional contributor to The AMICA Bulletin tells the second part of the story of the resurrection of the 90- key Carl Frei Street organ “Hindenburg” with some updates and surprising revelations. Ella Velthoen and Bruce Newman have companion articles about the amazing story about Allen Velthoen’s life’s work building a Wurlitzer 165 band organ replica, from the pipes to the mechanism, to the façade. ****************************************************************************************************************************************** But wait, there’s more…… Vincent Astor updates the continuing story of “Madam Laura”, one of the more famous recorded and storied band organs that most made first acquaintance when it was at Paul Eakins’ “Gay 90’s Village”. TJ Fisher’s “Notes from the Bay” asks the question, “what does one do with old, recorded reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, and pictures and videos in multiple different formats?’ Also, blank media and the machines that are required to play / use them! Sound familiar? “Three Magnificent Florida Mechanical Music Collections” is the title and subject matter for this issue’s field report. The picture-story of these remarkable collections replaces the traditional Chapter Reports for this issue. Season’s Greetings from AMICA and me! The AMICA Bulletin salutes the Christmas spirit by publishing a series of rare Christmas-oriented ads that originally appeared in several Music Trade magazines. ****************************************************************************************************************************************** Due to space considerations resulting from publication of the full slate of the annual Board meeting documents, Part Two of “Ross Davis: The West’s Band Organ Impresario” will be published in the next January – February 2022 edition. Here’s a fun-fact (or not). With the transition into 2022, your editor begins his ninth year as editor and publisher of this robust publication! Regards, Glenn Thomas Editor and Publisher – The AMICA Bulletin Wurlitzer165@gmail.com 6 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Event Date Location Sponsor / Add’l. Info.
2022 International Convention Aug 31 - Sept 5 San Francisco, California Jointly with MBSI
2023 International Convention July 16 - 23 New Orleans, Lousiana AMICA
2024 International Convention Pending
2025 International Convention August 27-31 Los Angeles, CA Jointly with MBSI
AMICA members are encouraged to send potential listings to the editor. Chapter meeting listings are encouraged,
and will be automatically listed if the editor is aware of them. Events may be local or national, need not be exclusive to AMICA or be
sponsored by AMICA.
Events sponsored by affiliated organizations may be included if they have a direct or potential interest to AMICA members.
In submitting listings, remember the “Bulletin received date” for readers is substantially later than your notification date to the editor.
The Museum of Music Automatons in Seewen near Basel, Switzerland, will have a Special exhibition from 1 October 2021 to 24 April
2022 of music boxes featuring “hélicoïdal” and “semi-hélicoïdal” tracking. The elegant musical furniture of the Belle Époque offered a
blend of precision mechanics and particularly impressive musical performance encased in a dignified exterior. The museum is the first
in the world to showcase the diversity of these rare exhibits. Items from the museum’s collection will be supplemented by loans from
private collectors and museums in Europe. This marks the first time some of the items will be on public display.
NEW MEMBERS
Dan Blank Susan Glastetter Keith and Virginia Taylor
Los Angeles, CA Pacific, MO Jefferson, ME
David Cox Joe Jennison Jared Wirth
Cohoes, NY Mount Vernon, IA Bellevue, NE
Michael Daggett Robert Sternberg
Stone Mountain, GA Port Jefferson, NY
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 7
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
BOARD MEETING, THANKS, AND SEASONAL FUN!
I first want to thank Glenn Thomas for delaying the publication deadline so that we could include in this issue the results of
the annual AMICA board meeting that was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 via our new Microsoft Teams software.
The twenty-three participants represented you as members, officers & committees.
A significant amount of preparation for the meeting happened behind the scenes and I want to thank everyone that helped
prepare and participated. The results were an efficient, informative meeting, with everyone looking forward to getting back
to normal Chapter meetings, Conventions, and other AMICA activities.
Please take the time to read over the various reports and actions the board took. We should all be proud to be a part of this
organization that continues to carry out its mission of promoting Mechanical Music!
Musically Yours:
Joel C. Cluskey
email: ampico2018@gmail.com.
Caption competition. Any suggestions?
8 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021
Sandy Lechtick
(818) 383-6000-Cell (818) 712-9700 x14-Office
www.sandysarcade.com
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 9
NICKEL NOTES:
Nickel Notes:
THE The Evolution of
EVOLUTION OFthe
THEPlayer PianoPIANO
PLAYER
by Matthew Jaro
By Matthew Jaro
In previous issues, I discussed eighty-eight note rolls and
their collectors,
In previous and I Iwrote
issues, manyeighty-eight
discussed articles aboutnotethe various
rolls
coin-operated machines.
and their collectors, andThe player
I wrote manypiano is an
articles important
about the
instrument because it was
various coin-operated the beginning
machines. of many
The player collections
piano is an
important
and an object instrument
of collectionbecause it was
itself. The the is
music beginning of
very captivating
many
with collections
complex and anarrangements
elaborated object of collection itself. The
and snappy tempi. I
music
owe is very
a debt captivating
of gratitude with
to the complex
late Harveyelaborated
Roehl for his book
arrangements and snappy tempi.
“Player Piano Treasury”, 1961 and 1973. This I owe a debtprovided
of me
gratitude to the late Harvey Roehl for his book
with a background and a point of departure for searching the “Player
Piano Treasury”, 1961 and 1973. This provided me with
trade press for relevant articles. There are also sections of
a background and a point of departure for searching the
the bookpress
trade which forI quoted
relevantdirectly.
articles. There are also sections The Pianola
of thepianos
Barrel book which
operatedI quoted directly.drum with pins actuating
by a rotating The first commercial success in the player piano field
a piano action to make the music. These were plentiful in the was The PianolaIn 1876, William B. Tremaine founded
the Pianola.
Barrel
19th pianos
century, butoperated
they areby a rotating
only drumrelated
tangentially with pins
to player the Mechanical Orguinette Company (which sold a small
pianos as we know ththem, so I am going to skipThese
actuating a piano action to make the music. were of
this aspect reed Theorganfirstthat
commercial
played from success in thetune
a paper player pianoInfield
sheet. 1883
plentiful in the 19 century, but they are only tangentially was the Pianola. In 1876, William B. Tremaine founded
mechanical music. the Aeolian Organ was brought out. After acquiring the
related to player pianos as we know them, so I am going the Mechanical Orguinette Company (which sold a small
Into1863,
skip this
Henriaspect of mechanical
Fourneaux patentedmusic.
the first player to be patents and stock of the Automatic Music Paper Company,
reed organ that played from a paper tune sheet. In 1883
operated on pneumatic principles. He called this “The Tremaine organized
the Aeolian Organ thewas Aeolian Organ
brought out.and Music
After Company,
acquiring the
In 1863,The
Pianista”. Henri Fourneaux
MBSI Websitepatented
says: the first player to be manufacturing
patents and automatic
stock of organs and music
the Automatic Music rolls.
Paper
operated on pneumatic principles. He called this “The W.B.Company,
Tremaine was Tremaine organized
the founder of the the Aeolian
business (inOrgan
America) andof
Pianista”. The MBSI Website says: Music Company, manufacturing automatic organs and
manufacturing automatic playing musical instruments. Before
FOURNEAUX music rolls.
the advent of the “Pianola” there was neither competition nor
FOURNEAUX
Paris, France.
Paris,Made
France.theMade
Pianista, one of the
the Pianista, onefirst push-up
of the first encouragement
W.B. Tremaine fromwas thethe
piano tradeofand
founder theitbusiness
required(in a man
piano players that piano
push-up worked on pneumatic
players that workedprinciples, 1863-
on pneumatic of keen foresight and courage to meet these
America) of manufacturing automatic playing musical conditions and
1870s. As principles,
large as an1863-1870s.
upright piano,Asthe
large as an had
Pianista upright
fingers makeinstruments.
a success of the business, as he did,
Before the advent of the “Pianola” there up to the time
that played piano, the Pianista
the keys had fingers
of a piano. Music that
wasplayed the
programmed of hiswas
relinquishing it to his son,
neither competition nor H.B. Trermaine (from
encouragement from Alfred
the
on a pinned keyscylinder,
of a piano.
butMusic was actuated
the pins programmedsmallonvalves
a Dolge,piano
Pianostrade and
and it required
Their Makers,a 1911
man of and keen
1913).foresight and
pinned cylinder, but the pins actuated
that controlled a pneumatic player action as in most roll-small courage to meet these conditions and make a success
valvespianos.
that controlled a pneumatic H.B. Tremaine proceeded to make the Aeolian Company
operated player The mechanism wasplayer
poweredaction
by a of the business, as he did, up to the time of his
into arelinquishing
$10 million itcorporation, and itTrermaine
was largely dueAlfred
to the
as in most roll-operated player pianos. The to his son, H.B. (from
hand crank. Also patented an early cardboard-operated key success of the Pianola.
mechanism was powered by a hand crank. Also Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, 1911 and 1913).
frame; Gavioli et Cie., (Paris) bought the patent and adapted
patented an early cardboard-operated key Following is an 1898 advertisement for the Pianola. Notice
its principles to the
frame; fairground
Gavioli organ.
et Cie., (Paris) bought the patent how H.B. Tremaineisproceeded
the machine pushed uptotomake the Aeolian
the piano. In fact,Company
these
This push-upandconcept
adaptedwas
its principles to the fairground
called a “vorsetzer” since it sits in into a $10 million corporation, and it was largely due to
were called “piano players” instead of “player pianos”.
organ.
front of the keyboard. However, the industry credits Robert the success of the Pianola.
W. Pain with inventing the player piano in 1880. The following Further, following is an article from The Music Trade Review
This push-up concept was called a “vorsetzer” since it Following
of 1898 is an 1898
introducing advertisement
the Pianola. Since the for the Pianola.
Pianola was so
is from a discussion in the Music Trade Review (MTR) in
sits in front of the keyboard. However, the industry Notice how
successful, therethewere
machine is pushed
several up to the
competitors, piano.
such as In the
1915 (according to Edmund Gram, the piano manufacturer).
credits Robert W. Pain with inventing the player piano in fact,(The
Cecilian these were called
Ferrand Organ“piano players”
Company), theinstead
Angelusof(Wilcox
“player
1880. The following is from a discussion in the Music and pianos”.
White), The Needham Paragon (The Needham Piano
Trade Review (MTR) in 1915 (according to Edmund
and Organ Company), and the Simplex (Theodore P. Brown).
Gram, the piano manufacturer). Further, following is an article from The Music Trade
The Angelus, available in 1896, predated the Pianola (which
Review of 1898 introducing the Pianola. Since the
was Pianola
availablewasin the fall of 1898).there
so successful, Mostwere
systems played only
several
65 notes of the 88-note scale, therefore compositions
competitors, such as the Cecilian (The Ferrand Organ had to
be re-arranged to fit this compass.
Company), the Angelus (Wilcox and White), The
TheseNeedham Paragon
cabinet-style (The Needham
push-up machinesPiano andtoday
are rare Organbut
Company), and the Simplex (Theodore P. Brown). The
had a tremendous popularity from around 1900 to 1905.
Angelus, available in 1896, predated the Pianola (which
They were a clumsy contraption. They had to be moved up to
was available in the fall of 1898). Most systems played
the keyboard to play,
only 65 notes and88-note
of the you hadscale,
to be therefore
careful not to break
the wooden
compositions had to be re-arranged to that
fingers. So, it is not surprising efforts
fit this were
compass.
made to eliminate the player as a separate unit and build its
10 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021features into the piano.
Incidentally, the name “Pianola” was so popular that it
became generic. Aeolian was quick to sue any company
that had a model ending in “ola”, and they eventually won a
very broad suit enjoining competitors from using any similar
name. For example, names like Tecnola, Aerola, the Crown-
Combinola, the Autola, the Convertola, the Symphonola, the
Playola, the Marveola, the Vacuola, the Pistonola and the
Playernola.
The Apollo
A great pioneer in the industry was Melville Clark. In February
of 1900, he organized the Melville Clark Piano Company. He
also ended his affiliation with Story and Clark. His Apollo
piano-player was at first an attachment, but then he was one
of the first to market pianos and their players as a complete
unit and was also about the first (with advertisements
appearing as early as March 1901) to build a player unit to
operate the entire 88-note range of the piano. During this
period a transition was being made from the 65-note roll
to the full 88-note roll and pianos were being marketed to
handle either size. Of course, some manufacturers were non-
conformists and Clark had to support five sizes on his pianos
(58, 65, 70, 82 and 88-note). This lack of standardization was
a hinderance to the industry, but eventually a convention of
manufacturers in Buffalo, New York in 1908 was held which
insured interchangeability among pianos of practically all
makes.
Mass Market
The standardization of roll types and spacing precipitated a
great explosion in the player piano and roll field. The decision
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 1112 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021
around 1910 was not whether to buy a player but what pianist some control of expression and speed. The Metrostyle
type to buy. The design was pretty much standardized and was introduced in 1903 and had a pen-pointed index finger
any differences between brands were minor refinements. that can be moved by the artist to place a red line on the roll to
According to Harvey Roehl, a Hardman, Peck and Company mark his tempo variations. The player can follow the red line
foot-operated player made in 1957 was for all practical on the roll to reproduce this effect. The Aeolian company, as
purposes mechanically identical with most players built in always, was very aggressive in protecting their trademarks
1910. and patents. They successfully sued the Cunningham Piano
Through the years, manufacturers came up with gadgets Company for producing a device like the Metrostyle.
and gimmicks to assist in sales of their machines and they
all had fancy names and descriptions. This extract from the Pianola Institute provides a good
The Emerson AccompanO permitted the singer to operate explanation of the Themodist.
his own accompaniment by manipulation of a switch at the
end of a cable. This would adjust the tempo. This attachment
was introduced in 1915 and was advertised until 1922. The duality of the Metrostyle Pianola, split between bass and
treble, paved the way for another new device, the Themodist,
The Metrostyle and Themodist based on an invention of James W. Crooks from 1900, but
not introduced commercially until the autumn of 1906. The
Themodist was so called because it helped the Pianolist
to distinguish the themes in the music being played, and it
operated by means of ditto mark perforations at each edge
of the roll, one set for treble and the other for bass.
By judicious use of the subduing levers, the player was able
to reduce the level of accompaniment passages, while those
notes occurring at the same instant as a theme perforation
were brought out at full dynamic level being created by
the foot pedals. Rolls with the Metrostyle and Themodist
advances were marketed by Aeolian for many years.
The Electrelle
The Electrelle was a player action that can be installed in
any upright piano without modifying the piano. The spool
frame is placed under the keyboard. The “inside player
piano” was announced in 1906. In April 1910, the American
Piano Company bought the manufacturing and selling
rights for North and South America. The roll was a standard
roll that was read by brushes making contact through the
perforations. The piano was actuated by means of solenoids.
Later models combined a pneumatic section to read the roll
and an electro-mechanical section to play the notes. The
interface was by means of diaphragms whose movement
made an electrical contact. Here is an excerpt from the
Music Trade Review of 1910:
Aeolian’s MetroStyle and Themodist for the Pianola gave the
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 1314 AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021
After the acquisition, the name was
changed to “American Electrelle”.
In 1915, the Electrelle became the
Flexotone Electrelle. The Flexotone was
an expression control device. 1920 was
the last mention of the Electrelle.
The 1910s
The following is a list of the number of players sold in the
U.S. by year:
1909: 45,414
1914: 95,402
1919: 208,541
1921: 122,439
1923: 205,556
1925: 169,193
1927: 95,454
1929: 36,504
1931: 2,171
Photograph of the Electrelle action, Reprinted with
permission of Mechanical Music Digest and Regi Hedahl. 1935: 418
These figures were reported by the U.S. Department of
Tel-Electric Commerce. You can see that after 1923, production fell off
The Tel-Electric system was an electric player piano that dramatically. There were over 1200 models of player pianos
used brass music rolls. Here is a 1907 article from the Music created around the world.
Trade Review: For example, in a December 1914 Music Trade Review
there were Angelus (Wilcox and White); Sterling; Hardman,
Peck and Company; the Christman Attachable Player; the
Manualo (Baldwin); Chase-Hackly; Mathushek; Amphion
Player Action; Cable-Nelson; Weser Bros. (including the
Electric Marveola); Wright Metal Player Action; William Tonk
and Bro.; Francis Connor; De Luxe Player Piano Actions
(Auto Pneumatic Action Company); Jacob Doll and Sons,
(the Autopiano); Wilfred, Winter and Company; Weydig-
Henkelman; Whitman; Simplex Player Actions’ the metal Air-
O-Player (National Piano Company); Briggs; Merrill; Norris
and Hyde; Jesse French; Holland; Francis Bacon; Schaff;
Rudolf; the Strauch Piano Action; Bush and Gerts; Lindeman
and Sons; Emerson; Kurtzmann; the Staib Mastertouch Piano
In 1911, Tel-Electric introduced a player attachment named Action (Staib-Abendschein); Decker and Son; Gulbransen;
the “Telektra”. The company placed a small ad in the Music Pianola (Aeolian); Standard Player Action (Standard
Trade Review until 1919. In 1919, the company was dissolved. Pneumatic Action Company); Tel-Electric; Chase and Baker;
AMICA Bulletin - November/December 2021 15Apollo (Melville Clark); the Metalnola Player Action; Bogart; Towards the end of the 1960’s, Seeburg introduced the
Electrelle; Byrne; Bjur Brothers; Becker Brothers; De Rivas “Serenada”. This used a three-tier solenoid stack mounted
and Harris; Kimball; R.S. Howard; Cable and Sons; Stultz under the key bed and a remote spool box reading the roll
and Bauer; Jewett; Mellotona (Gordon Piano Company); electrically within the tracker bar and connected to the stack
James and Holmstrom; Milton; Brinkerhoff; Henry Keller and by multi-strand cable. After this, all electronic systems were
Sons; Henry F. Miller; and Behning. developed.
These were just from advertisements where “player piano”
was specifically mentioned and from one issue of the Music The Rise and Fall of the Player Piano.
Trade Review. You can see from this how ubiquitous the
player piano was at this time. Each model had some little This was the story of the rise and fall of the player piano.
gadget but in general there were only the pneumatic and It’s interesting that player pianos started out as keytop or
electric designs. In 1914, the outlook was so optimistic that vorsetzer units; then they became independent pianos that
they thought that the player piano would be a permanent can serve both as a piano and as a player with no conversion
part of the industry. necessary; and finally, into heavy keytop units which
were difficult to install or remove (largely because of their
By the end of the twenties, the player piano was effectively weight. It seemed like the old Pianola push-up units were
dead. The late model AMPICO reproducing pianos were built better because you only had to wheel the Pianola onto the
as late as 1936 and perhaps even later. This was the last of keyboard. So, is this an evolution or a devolution?
the players in America until the Aeolian Company introduced
its key-top Pianola in 1950.
The 1950s
The key-top Pianola was an attachment which merely had to
be lifted onto the keyboard of any piano to operate. It was
About the Author: Matt Jaro is a mechanical
music researcher and historian in Gaithersburg,
totally pneumatic and had two units. The pump/reservoir unit
Maryland. His retrospectives on a variety of
weighed 65 pounds and sits beside the piano. The keytop
mechanical music subjects appear in each issue of
unit with stack, roll box and all familiar control devices
The AMICA Bulletin.
weighed 47 pounds. This wasn’t very popular and soon was
withdrawn from the market. Contact him at mjaro@verizon.net
In the mid 1950’s, the Gribble Music Company introduced
the “Magic Fingers”. It was also a key-top attachment, but it
required several hours of labor to affix it. It was aggressively
promoted but still was not successful. The Hardman-Peck
Duo was introduced in 1957 and it sold quite well despite a
$1300 price tag. In 1960, a second version was produced
under the Pianola name – a 64 note spinet selling for just
over $1000.
In the early 60’s, we got the considerably lighter (mostly
styrene) plastic but still pneumatic Dynavoice key-top
machine. The Electone key-top machine followed. The Dale
“Lectronic” was next. This read the roll pneumatically which
actuated micro-switches that operated solenoids.
In the 1960’s a nostalgia craze helped propel sales resulting
in 5000 to 6000 units being sold each year.
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