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The Chicago Electric


Since we have been showing odd pianos here is one with only 61 notes and no keyboard! Actually it's a "nickelodeon", more formally an automatic coin piano which plays 10 tune 65-note A-rolls (the other perforations control sustain, soft pedal, mandolin, and a xylophone). The interior view shows the electric motor, pump, roll frame, player stack and xylophone. This is a "Chicago Electric" made by Smith, Barnes & Stroeber about 1916.

It doesn't get tuned too often because access requires removing the xylophone, spool shelf and stack, besides which the lack of keys makes it a bit of a drag. I understand the factory used a demountable keyboard for the purpose, which makes sense if you are manufacturing the things, but not for one isntrument. (Some of the "off" notes are actually spurious perforations in the roll.)    - Tom Harr

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Picture

Here is a lo-fi sample of The Varsity Drag. The first sound is the coin dropping down the slot to the magazine to turn it on.
The Varsity Drag by ptgcolumbus

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