I spent the weekend in Champaign Urbana, Il, (where the weather was
decidedly nicer than here in the Santa Clara Valley!) and came across
what appears to be an antique keyboard instrument in the lobby of the
Lincoln Hotel in Champaign.

It is a rectangular box, horizontal to the ground supported on four
legs, one at each corner.  The box is wider than deep, and perhaps
18" high with a keyboard on the front that at a glance had what looked
like 88 keys.  The top was partially open and I could see that the
strings were strung horizontally in the box, nominally left to right
in 2 (?) layers and the top layer strings were at a modest diagonal
across the box.

The case was rather ornate (as opposed to a plain wood box), but not
carved.  I have a recollection that it was wood and some greenish (like
oxidized copper in color) designs/patterns (inlaid ?) on it.  Because I
could not stop to look more closely, I was unable to get the name on
the fallboard nor inquire if it was playable or only for "show".

Just thought I'd mention this for those of you who have interest in
pianos that are not of the more common configurations.

Harvey

 [ The MMD has a couple of friends in that area (my home town of
 [ 20 years).   Perhaps we'll get some more information about
 [ the piano and its history.