Automatic Pianos: A Collector's Guide to the Pianola, Barrel Piano, & Aeolian Orchestrelle

The era of the self—playing or automatic piano embraced the first three decades of the 20th century. Piano—playing cabinets were followed by the pneumatic player—piano, soon to be known the world over by the name of the leading American make — Pianola. There were many other makes, of course, with names like Kastonome, Triumph, Pistonola, Claviola, Autoplayer and Apollo. Invented almost simultaneously in Germany and America, player pianos became the most sought—after addition to the family h...