Aeolian Co. Pianola Model Piano Player: Museum Object and Cultural History
Aeolian Co. Pianola Model Piano Player: date made: 1897. maker: Aeolian Co.. Object Name: piano player.
The object in the museum catalogue
This piano player model was made by Aeolian Co. in New York, New York, 1897.
According to the accession paperwork, this instrument was the original pianola model, subsequently manufactured as the first practical pneumatic and marketable piano player. This piano player can accommodate 58 note paper rolls and is pedal operated. Edwin Votey is attributed as the inventor for this instrument. The patent for this pneumatic piano attachment, or pianola, was originally filed in 1897 and then renewed in 1900. U.S. Patent #650285, dated May 22, 1900.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: 1897
- maker: Aeolian Co.
- Object Name: piano player
- Physical Description: wood (overall material)
- Physical Description: metal (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 45 1/2 in x 44 in x 23 in; 115.57 cm x 111.76 cm x 58.42 cm
- place made: United States: New York, New York City
- ID Number: MI.324741
- accession number: 69233
- catalog number: 324741
- Credit Line: Gift of The Aeolian Company
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
Sources and reuse
Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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