In response to the recent inquiry and response regarding Western and
Western Electric Piano Company, I offer the following.
I know of no player piano manufacturer called simply "Western",
although there is a coin token pictured in Bower's Encyclopedia Labeled
"Western Automatic Music Company". Perhaps there was a dealer called
Western that did limited reconditioning or distributing of instruments.
Instruments bearing the Western Electric Piano Company name were
coin-operated pianos manufactured by the extremely significant Chicago
firm, the J.P. Seeburg Piano Company. Perhaps the relative spoken of by
the original MMD inquiry was a Seeburg employee or dealer. If that
turns out to be the case, I'd certainly like to hear more details.
John D. Rutoskey
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