Oak Autopiano w/percussions

capecod · Post by **capecod** » 18 Feb 2007, 00:12

Hello! I am glad to have found this forum!! Hoping someone can tell me *anything* about this oak autopiano. I've been searching and searching online and can't find one like it. Thanks!!

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 18 Feb 2007, 00:59

Bill may have somthing on these but i would also try

Pianola Institute UK
http://www.pianola.org/

and

The Player Piano Page UK
http://www.pianola.com/

Barrie,

Tom Tuner · Post by **Tom Tuner** » 20 Feb 2007, 20:11

This was almost certainly assembled within the last 20 or so years, probably by one of the dealers in the busuiness of making "orchestrions" from old pllayer pianos. The position of the roll-frame under the key-bed is a give-away on this. This would play 10 tune 'O rolls'.
The serial number on the piano itself would be of no user in dating this assemblage. I will do a little checking to see about the likely makers. Ragtime Automated Music is one that comes to mind.

Tom Tuner

capecod · Post by **capecod** » 21 Feb 2007, 01:34

Tom - Thank you so much for your help. A friend emailed me the photos asking if I could find a buyer (I'm in the antique business but don't deal in pianos at all). I thought the cabinetry looked newer. I'll keep checking back to this post to see if any more info comes in. Thanks a bunch!!

Tom Tuner · Post by **Tom Tuner** » 22 Feb 2007, 20:22

Someone did a nice job on extending the cabinet about two feet in height to accomodate the percussion. The original case stopped at the top of the gold-painted plate. Many of these conversions have been fancied-up with "art glass" in the front panels. Ed Freyer in New Jersey used to sell recut rolls for these and other coin pianos. They also can be found on e-Bay. You can look on Mechanical Music Digest mmd.foxtail.com to find similar instruments.

Tom Tuner