Object Details
- Description
This piano player was made by Aeolian Co. in New York, New York, around 1905. It is a Themodist-Metrostyle player, with 65 felt covered metal fingers. This instrument can accommodate 11-1/4" wide 65 note piano or 65 note Themodist paper rolls. This pianola has a hinged lid to access the spool box to exchange piano rolls, and levers to operate bass and treble accents, tempo, and play/rewind. A sliding panel on the bottom front of the pianola conceals two folding foot pedals used to activate the bellows. The back of the pianola with its 65 felt covered metal fingers is placed above the corresponding keys on a piano, with a lever at the bottom in contact with the piano’s sustain pedal.
Edwin Votey is attributed as the inventor for this instrument. The patent for it was originally filed in 1897 and then renewed in 1900. U.S. Patent #650285, dated May 22, 1900.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mills Dean III in memory of Clarence R. Shoemaker
- ca 1905
- ID Number
- MI.73.36
- catalog number
- 73.36
- accession number
- 304324
- Object Name
- piano player
- Physical Description
- wood (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 40 in x 46 in x 18 in; 101.6 cm x 116.84 cm x 45.72 cm
- place made
- United States: New York, New York City
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
- Music & Musical Instruments
- Mechanical Musical Instruments
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_605795
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-31a4-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
