Hi Folks,  Regarding keytop piano players, this is an area in which I
have a special interest, having pursued for 9 years and recently restored
a 1950 Aeolian Pianola.  I am currently actively researching its
competition's similar later devices.  The 1950s onward chronology goes
something like this.

In 1950 Aeolian American Corporation introduced to market an ingenious
machine to render the domestic piano self-playing.  Called the Pianola,
after Aeolian's original push-up Vorsetzer, it is totally pneumatic
device constructed of aluminum, brass, wood, rubber cloth and leather,
and consists of two parts.  The pump/reservoir unit weighs about 65 pounds
and sits beside the piano.  The keytop unit containing the stack, roll box
and all familiar control devices weighs 47 pounds, hardly a easy thing to
'schlep' on and off.  But golly, this thing can perform and looks good
doing it, housed in its bent-wood mahogany 'waterfall' shell!

About 1955 Gribble Music Company of Kansas City produced 'Magic Fingers',
also a pneumatic attachment.  This came in the form of a drawer unit
which was mounted under the spinet/upright/grand keybed as was the
separate stack and weighs just what you'd expect.

In the early 1960s we got the considerably lighter, mostly styrene
plastic but still pneumatic self-contained 'Dynavoice' machine.  The
less said the better.  Yes, it works - for about 5 minutes.

 [ Then the blower motor overheats and melts!  That's what happened
 [ in several I looked at!  -- Robbie

I have not yet laid eyes on an 'Electone' pneumatic keytopper but know of
one (far away) in Savannah, Georgia.  Also a great deal of plastic - not
as much styrene -- but solidly made and plays well, I'm told.  I wonder if
the Electone is a later development of the accursed Dynavoice?  Tell me,
please.

The next keytop player to make the scene was the Dale 'Lectronic' from
Dale Electronics Inc. of Yankton, South Dakota around 1965.  Self-
contained in a simulated-wood MacTac-ed sheet-metal case, it only read
the roll pneumatically which activated microswitches on a separate board
and thence the solenoid rubber-tipped key-striking plungers.

Toward the end of decade 1960 Seeburg showcased its 'Serenada' system
which was adapted from the mid-1960 'Electrachord' of Lee von Gunten
(push buttons wired to solenoids to provide bass chords only).  The
Serenada consists of a three-tiered solenoid 'stack' weighing as much
as a 'Telectra' stack, mounted under the keybed and a remote spoolbox
reading the roll electrically within the trackerbar and connected to the
stack by multi-strand cable.

After that, paper roll software was deemed 'old fashioned' and Marantz
really started something with its recording tape based 'Pianocorder'
system which has led to the various CD/floppy systems of today.

I have lately examined/heard the new QRS single-tier keytop solenoid
'beam' unit for use with their 'Pianomation' system and after my next
visit will be able to tell you more about the 'Midi Violin'.  It is a
real violin with a single string and no 'fret' fingers; the signal is
sent down the string, as I understand it.  Can you enlighten us, QRS?

If anyone has stories to relate about the above listed keytop players
I'd really encourage you to e-mail me; I am preparing a comprehensive
'tell-all' article for the Christmas AMICA Bulletin and any tidbits you
can fling my way will help flesh out the three pages of text (so far).

And if you have a keytop unit to sell...

Thank you,
Dave Kerr

 [ MMD is a great way to do research for an article like this.  We get
 [ the quick, informal news and it's later presented in a polished 
 [ article in a real honest-to-goodness Journal like the AMICA Bulletin.
 [ It sure beats writing lots of letters, right?!  :-)  -- Robbie