Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > December 1997 > 1997.12.17 > 10Prev  Next


George P. Bent Company
By Peter Coggins

In reply to Philippe's question, I can offer a little bit of info that
may help.  They were made in Chicago and Louisville.

Geo. P. Bent started making organs in 1878 and made their first piano
in 1889 called the Crown.  Their players were called Crown Combinola,
which had 2 extra pedals and levers for a banjo and a harpsichord
effect:  one lowered the normal banjo rail down while the other stopped
the hammers short of the strings so that it only pushed the banjo tabs
into the strings, giving a noticeably different sound.  It also has a
hammer rail split into 3 sections, controlled by pneumatics with
buttons on the keyslip, and an overall soft lever controlling a valve
in the bellow set.

I have one of these which was made in 1914, its also called an
"Orchestral Piano" on the inside label.  I don't know if all the Crowns
Combinola's had this, maybe its why they were called Combinola.  Later
the Winter Company took over and the players after that were just
called Crown.  Both use Standard player actions.  It is an
exceptionally well made player, but apparently this quality dropped off
in later years.  (Maybe when Winter took them over?)

I didn't know that they made coin pianos, but I guess a lot of smaller
companies had a go in the early days.  It may only be one of a few ever
built.

Peter Coggins


(Message sent Wed 17 Dec 1997, 10:01:12 GMT, from time zone GMT+1100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Bent, Company, George, P

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page