In response the comments about automatic musical instruments in Prague
I would like to offer some comments.  First of all, the comment that
the people "are as cold as ice" is obviously a reflection of the person
making the statement.  He must have that typical American tourist
attitude demanding fast, smiling, service and the comforts of home.

I lived in Prague for over a year as a Fulbright Scholar, during
and after Communism, and I have always found the people to be warm,
generous, and quite helpful if you are patient.  The Czechs certainly
do not have the attitude of many of the Germans or the French, and in
fact, in the heyday of the player piano, they were often called the
"Yankees of Europe".

The Czechs were one of the leading manufacturers of musical instruments
and toys before World War Two.  Most of these instruments were lost in
the wars and many found their way to the Soviet Union after the
"liberation" in 1945.

There is, however, a nice collection in the Technical Museum of Prague.
This is not the amazing National Museum, at the top of Wenceslas Square,
but in a very different location (ask for directions when you are there).
The Technical Museum produced a book on automatic instruments with
wonderful photos in the late 1950s and it is still in print.

You can also seek a poorly maintained but still playing coin-operated
piano in the pub called "U Kalichu" ("At the Chalice") in Prague.  This
is a famous pub because it was the hangout of the "Good Soldier Svejk"
-- a Czech national character from the era of the First World War.

I did see a Hupfeld Violano for sale in Prague in 1991 but as a poor
graduate student I couldn't even think about the $5,000 price tag.
I have never seen a player piano ("pianista" in Czech) in any home in
the Czech lands.

Bohemian visitors to my home are amazed by my pianos and especially by
Czech piano roll music!  My research indicates that there were more
rolls issued in the USA of Czech (Bohemian) music and lyrics than of
any other nationality.  It does appear more titles were available from
QRS in the "Bohemian Language" than either German, Polish, Italian, or
any other group.

The first rolls in a series of "Nationality Recordings" on Duo-Art were
Czech (does anyone have these?), and of course many piano roll artists
were also from the old Bohemian kingdom, from Mahler to Volavy.

The Czech people and their culture are part of the musical heritage
of Central Europe (not the Orthodox 'East').  Prague, like Vienna, has
a rich musical heritage: the composers Friml, Dvorak, Smetana, Suk,
Mahler, Fibich, Dussek, Martinu, Husa, Janacek, and Kmoch (the "March
King of Bohemia" and Sousa contemporary), as well as roll and recording
artists such as Grunfeld, Friml, Volavy, Emmy Destinn, A.L. Maresh
(arranger of thousands of rolls of Czech music for orchestrions, coin
pianos, and players in the USA), and many, many others all have ties to
Prague.

And of course, in the collector's corner we cannot forget the Svoboda
family and their tavern in Chicagoland -- an inspiration to many,
including Art Reblitz.

I am wandering now, as you will in Prague, so I must finish.  It is an
amazing city with character and architecture surviving more than 1000
years.  While in Prague drink a glass of fine Czech Pilsener beer (the
original from Pilsen!) and order a plate of sauerkraut, dumplings, and
roast pork -- you can't get more Bohemian than that!

"Na zdravy!" -- To your health!

Dr. Mike Kukral

 [ Narodni technicke muzeum, Praha :
 [   http://www.ntm.cz/auvod.htm
 [ Catalogue of museums in Czech Republic :
 [   http://www.cz-museums.cz/uk/adresar/index.asp
 [ -- Robbie