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
MMD > Archives > December 1998 > 1998.12.06 > 01Prev  Next


Polyphon Concerto Disc Operated Piano
By Bill Wineburgh

Marshall Price asks about the Polyphon Concerto.

> Can anybody tell me when and where these were made, how popular and
> expensive they were, and where I can learn more about the company?

This is a disc operated piano.  The several styles are described
on page 164 in Q. David Bowers' Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical
Instruments.  They were manufactured by the Polyphon Musikwerke in
Leipzig, Germany, between about 1895 and 1910.  Some were imported
by the Regina Music Box Company and sold as Polyphone (with an e)
Concerto.

They play from a 32" diameter disc on 65 piano notes, 10 bells,
a cymbal and two drums.  There were several case styles as shown in
Bowers' book.  I don't know about cost or popularity, but I expect
they are on the 'rare' side.

Musically yours,

Bill Wineburgh
http://members.aol.com/mboxmuseum/museum.html


(Message sent Sun 6 Dec 1998, 16:56:44 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Concerto, Disc, Operated, Piano, Polyphon

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