-- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD --

 [ I wrote to Mr. Evans for more information and asked permission to
 [ place his photos at the MMD Pictures site, which he kindly granted;
 [ see http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures/  -- Robbie

The Boyd 'Pistonola' was developed by H C Goldman and C F Webb in
London around 1912.  It was first demonstrated in November 1913 at
a concert held in Ilford Town Hall, Essex, England, and again in April
1914 at the Corn Exchange, London.  

The mechanism is ingenious, being the smallest player action ever
devised.  In place of banks of large pneumatic motors it has a single
tier of pistons for the note-striking and four in line for the roll-
drive motor.  Even the feeders are pistons, and the reservoir is
a spring-loaded piston.  The valves are ball-bearings.

By the 1920s Boyd were producing a more conventional player piano.
Orde-Hume illustrates one in his 'Pianola' book, which is (was?)
located in the Isle of Wight (UK), but I understand that one no longer
works.

I have owned this instrument for some 20 years, always intending to
restore it, but higher priorities have always come along!  E.g., we
have a Philipps Duca reproducing piano to tackle, a Harper Electric,
Keyless Red Welte, etc., etc., plus a possible move to your fine
country on the horizon, where we hope to open some kind of museum...

Best wishes from UK

David Evans
Hampshire, England

 [ At http://www.pianola.demon.co.uk/boyd.htm is an old advert which
 [ says the little pistons are compressed graphite.  -- Robbie